Living the life most people just dream about~

Up bright and early to get out the door to our club event this morning. Due to threatened weather forecast – my Queen opted to hang out at the house instead of the beach where the dive was going on.  As it turned out – it was a pretty good call as rain set in a couple of hours into the event.

We had a good turn out and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves despite the weather turning. They were wet anyways  😉

That’s all I got for you today……. Gonna share my pictures…. mostly of divers, but it might be a fun insight to one of my groups.

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

Up fairly early after a semi decent nights sleep….. my bride slept in which gave me almost 2 hours of the morning quiet that I enjoy so much. Almost another do nothing day. I had to run some stuff down the road to drop off for a club activity tomorrow, but other than that – it was a pretty tame day. Big waves still crashing in on us and by shortly after noon we had a pretty good rain system move in and settle in on us for a while. We had the works, including a water funnel ( I didn’t get video, but another person did and put it up on FB), rain, big waves, sunlight mixed in which made for some pretty dramatic pictures and a double rainbow. I took several pictures and some videos and even managed to get a couple of the videos uploaded….. now if I can get them on here……

Our dive club (CRABBS) is hosting a diving poker run tomorrow. Because I am on the board I will be ‘working’ the event, so won’t be participating in the diving. There is some concern that the big waves we’re having may create issues both with getting in and out of the water [from the shore] and with visibility…. but it is still on for tomorrow until we see what the water conditions are like. It is being held out at Cane Bay, so hopefully Ill be able to get some nice pictures to share with you….. until then enjoy these pictures of our weather today. IF I can get the video of the waves to load – turn up your volume…… It won’t do justice to what it actually sounds like – but you’ll get an idea.

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

IMG_3319 <——- Video

After doing what I call sleeping in – I rolled out, along with my Queen this morning with the sole intent of not doing a friggin’ thing today…… and other than a couple of little blurbs on the lap top I had to get done—- I knocked it out of the park~! We didn’t get around to breakfast until almost noon… so we had a tasty brunch….. I wrangled up a quick version of my pizza omelet…. I gotta tell ya…… if you like pizza, that is mighty, mighty delicious version of breakfast~! I think I can refine it a little bit and make it even better. I got in a big hurry this morning and just kind of mixed everything in with my scrambled eggs…… I think if I slow down and do it more of an omelet style, put the  fixin’s in the pan and then fold the egg over it and let it simmer a minute…. it might be a little better. I think going back to my all meat pizza would work better too. I had a ‘Supreme’ pizza for this trial and it was good…. but not so sure about the other stuff on it (green stuff, red stuff and onions)….. but my oh my won’t it be fun experimenting~! Not a lot else happened – we knocked out one whole season of Heartland today….. I have been told to keep my mouth shut about the drama on the show…. guess I may have got a little bit happy making snide remarks, so now I sit reasonably quiet while we watch…… reasonably quiet~~ 😉

That’s really about it – we are still getting hammered by monster waves on our beach and the water just keeps getting closer and closer to us….. I think I need to try and capture some of the big waves on video and hope they are somewhere near what we see and hear….. then be able to get them loaded on my laptop. More pictures from the dives the other day……

Happy Halloween~!

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

GOPR0635  <—- Video

 

Up much, much earlier than I wanted – but went with it. Got to watch a gorgeous sun rise~! My Queen followed me out much, much earlier than I think she should have, but whadda ya gonna do ???  😉  I made myself a tasty little breakfast before gathering up all my stuff and heading out the door toward Salt River to make a 2-Tank dive with Cane Bay Dive Shop. Showed up in plenty of time to find only one other guy on the boat…… a third was scheduled…. but much like the douche on the last dive — we sat around and waited an extra half hour for someone who never bothered to call or show up….. but – having the boat almost to myself was wonderful. Rocked and rolled getting out to the dive site as the North shore continues to get hammered with bigger and bigger waves, which made for a wild ride. I got some video of it, which probably don’t do it justice but we’ll see (if I can get it to load).

West wall of Salt River was the first dive…… probably the nastiest dive I’ve had since being on the  island. Visibility SUCKED…. 30′ at best….. my mask was leaking, I couldn’t get my buoyancy right, there was a damn current and my breathing was out of control…. just a nasty, nasty dive. Visibility was so bad [how bad was it]…. I only took a total of 13 pictures on the dive and several of them were on the surface….. just nasty dive all the way around – but – I was under water~!

Second dive was so, so much better. ‘Vis’ jumped up to about 65′-70′, I got my mask and breathing issues figured out, relatively little current and I wound up taking another 45+ pictures. Didn’t keep as many as usual (due mostly to low light) and there were no ‘fun’ creatures (sharks, rays, turtles, etc.) – but still a very enjoyable dive.

Back to the condo, showered and pictures loaded and edited…. a couple of episodes of Heartland and we were soon off to Blues for a bite to eat…… and a drink or seven. We wound up shutting them down, but only after meeting new friends who just moved here this week and some just visiting…… always a good time at the Backyard…….

Back here now sucking up some conditioned air…… I don’t know if our internet is gonna let me get any pictures loaded or not as it is barely keeping up with me typing….. and trust me – I do not type that fast~!! But I will certainly try. Absolutely nothing scheduled for tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to it~!

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

IMG_3282 <—— Video

Tried to sleep in this morning – but I guess I’m just too friggin’ old for that…. although I couldn’t do it when I was in my teens and twenties either….. old habits die hard I guess and I just hate to waste a day laying in bed….. although I do confess now I really would like to be able to do it once in a while. I got an hour or so of morning quiet before my Queen finally came out to join me. A fairly leisurely morning and a nice small breakfast, before we loaded up and headed to the West end of the island. I had to pick up some stuff we’re gonna need for our CRABBS club Anchor/Poker run dive this weekend. Also picked up a check from Adventures in Diving STX for our Fish With A Vet USVI organization. Proceeds made from the Pier clean up dive made a couple of weeks ago.

My Queen decided we were long over due for a big grocery run and since we were driving right past our favorite store out on that end of the island – we might as well drop in and knock out her list on the way home. Now granted, it’s been almost a month and a half since we made a ‘big’ grocery run….. but $345.00 ?  Ouch….. but we should be good for another month or so again, so not complaining [too much]. Finally got back and got groceries put away and sat down to enjoy some conditioned air and an episode or two of Heartland before getting up, showered and dressed up to meet our ‘island kids’ at our new favorite restaurant…. Savant. They heard us ranting and raving about it and wanted to check it out. I can safely say they were not disappointed. Same great food as we had last time. We had a ‘new’ server in training (who still has a lot to learn) but Chris (our server last time) backed her up and made sure we were taken care of. We tried several different appetizers and all were wonderfully delicious. For Entrees, I had the Scallops, “Island Daughter” Cynthia had Chicken Lolli-pops (or something like that) and my Queen and George had the stuffed Filet. Everything was just as delicious as the last time we were there. Factor in a little bit of alcohol and a dessert try to die for….. great company and a nice atmosphere….. just an overall wonderful evening. Of course – any evening spent with those two is a good one~  The “kids” just back from the Land of Plenty – brought us some ‘goodies’ back from stateside. We each got a bottle of moonshine (Angie’s has cherries in it) and George got me a replica of my most very favorite sea creature….. a Giant Green Moray Eel….. this thing this is just bad-ass~! Now I just have to find a ‘home’ for it……..

Still having issues loading pictures and videos – even after a [very aggravating] session with the Geek Squad guys today – but I’ll get it squared any – one way or the other. 2-Tank dive scheduled for the morning – so more underwater pix coming your way~!

A big ole Happy Birthday to my ‘Damn Neighbor’ Michael …. I love and miss ya buddy — wish we could have been together to celebrate~!

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

IMG_3248  <– Video

 

 

Up early to get out the door for a much earlier and more complex meeting this morning. This one was Fish With A Vet USVI https://www.fishwithavetusvi.com/ As I stated the other day – we are ramping up for our biggest [and signature] event of the year. Lots and Lots of coordination has to happen for this event and we are meeting frequently now to ensure the event goes off smoothly…… or at least as smoothly as something like this can on this island. A lot more details and longer than most meetings – but we got to enjoy a nice breakfast while we talked. Views are almost as good as the other meeting place – but I did not get a chance to snap any pictures for you……  my bad  🙁

Afterwards we stopped in at Blues to discuss some meeting related business with them. Deb wasn’t there (she handles all the ‘technical stuff) – so we figured we’d sit and and have a drink and wait and see if she showed up. She didn’t, but the beer was cold and I got to ‘catch up’ with Jim a little bit. We finished our drink and then headed back here. We have some demo work going on outside of our patio doors. We had a couple of large beams over our patio that were always in the way for picture taking – but I always just shot through and around them or cropped them out of my pictures. They are now gone. They are also talking about taking out the walls they were perched on (they are all strictly ornamental)….. which would make our now fabulous view – mind blowing – so we’re excited to see if that happens….. even if it means putting up with some noise for a while. I’ll try and dig up some older pictures so you can see the beams – then be able to post ‘after’ pictures.

We have had some heavy duty ocean swells the last couple of days and it has been mesmerizing to watch how it is changing our beach. I have started taking various shots of the beach – paying close attention to sand lines….. you can almost ‘watch’ the sand shifting. The other neat phenomenon is watching the magical moving rocks in the ocean….. I’m going to try and start documenting them as well (their locations on the beach). Sometimes they change hour to hour.

I have been trying to load the pictures and video I took the past couple of days – but something is going on that I apparently can’t figure out. I’ve got most of the pictures loaded, but it won’t load the videos….. so I guess I’m gonna have to ping my Geek Squad guys tomorrow….. until then – I’ll put up what pictures I did manage to get loaded.

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

I got to sleep in a tad longer this morning before succumbing to the urge to drain my bladder…… I really don’t want to complain about it – I’m getting a reasonably decent 7+ hours of sleep without having to get up in the middle of the night, so I’m doing better than most guys my age…. from what I hear.

Had a Board meeting of the dive club that I belong to (and am an Officer on the Board) today at noon at the Off the Wall bar and restaurant. Nice place, decent chow and dynamite views. It overlooks Cane Bay and just a wonderful place for any kind of get together. We ate lunch while we ‘worked’. I had a chicken salad sammich and my Bride (who went with me again) had a roast beef with dippin’ sauce. I also ordered me a pizza to go. A friend told me something he used to do with left over pizza and I have been dying to try it since. He said he would scramble up a couple of eggs and then the scrape the toppings off of a couple of slices of pizza into the egg mix, essentially making a pizza omelet. He said he would then ‘toast’ the crust and use it for his “toast” with his eggs. I’m not so sure about the toast part – but the pizza omelet sounds extra intriguing~!! I’ll let you know how that turns out~!

The Board meeting over with – we came back and I knocked out some paperwork from the meeting, then settled in for a couple of hours of Heartland. I’m still not real shot in the a$$ about it – but my Queen seems to really like it. It probably sounds ‘bad’ – but the show is just almost a little too ‘wholesome’ for me. That and there is entirely too much drama….. constantly~! There ain’t been one decent explosion yet and nobody cusses. I think I’ve heard ‘damn’ once since we started watching it. And everything always turns out perfect at the end of every episode…. it just don’t seem realistic enough I guess is what I’m getting at. I always have and always will prefer something that has at least a little action in it…. but I’m just a dumb old man….. what do I know ?  😉

I have another Board meeting in the morning for the other organization of which I am the Treasurer. We are having them every 2 weeks now as we ramp up for our biggest event of the year – a big fishing tournament. Last year was a massive success and we hope to build on that. It is a fund raiser and we raise money to support local veterans here on the island. So probably hit the sack early so we can be up and ready for that. I did manage a couple of new pictures for you today~!

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

IMG_3230 <— Video

My Queen and her phone……….

Another early start to the day due primarily to the urge to wet the bed…… I figured I was up – might as well stay up…….. I get that gorgeous sunrise and an extra little bit of quiet that I Look forward to in the mornings. My Bride eventually joined me and soon made us a nice small breakfast. I had decided I was going to try and get my ears lowered today since nothing else was really slated for today……. believe it or not – I do actual ‘need’ a hair cut 2 or 3 times a year – to avoid having a pretty pathetic ducktail….. I can keep the hair [in] and around my ears trimmed up and my Queen is good for one ‘neck trimming’ – but after that – I need to get it professionally cleaned up. Suspecting I might be doing this today, I held of shaving for the past couple of days and just figured I’d treat myself  a little bit. I normally go to an old local guy who does a mostly satisfactory job on my hair cuts….. but today I thought I’d go ‘all out’ and go see Frank the Barber. I have been to him once or twice and he does a really good job. His shop is also air conditioned and his taste in music is eerily identical  to mine~!  I called and got an appointment (yes you need an appointment to get into this barber) and got in fairly quick. I settled in fairly quickly and for the next hour Frank trimmed, clipped, buzzed and cut while we discussed the music playing in the background. I’m reasonably sure I ‘held my own’ as I called out artists and songs and I am also as sure, Frank found out I was no slouch when it came to my music knowledge. Frank finally got me laid back in the chair a little bit and proceed to administer a straight razor shave. This is only the second one of those I have ever had in my life….. you may even remember me telling you about the first a little over a year ago [I think]. The guy that di that one was the little old local guy that I normally go to….. I’m not saying he did a bad job…. but his razor wasn’t as sharp – and his hand wasn’t as steady as Franks……. and I was not in any hurry to have it done again. That changed this morning……. Frank gave me the classic straight razor shave (hot towels, brushed on shaving cream, face rubbed with oil – the whole works)….. wow….. I can see now why women like to go get pampered so much….. that was wonderful. Right about an hour and I was done…. walked out feeling like a new man…well, you know what I mean.

Came home and watched a couple of episodes of Heartland, before heading up to Blues….. our first time up there this week. We didn’t want them to think we left the island~! After a fun filled couple of hours, we shut them down, swung by Mickey D’s for some junky goodness and then back here…….. Showered, shaved and about half shot – I’m ready for some shut eye…………… random pix me or you may have missed……………..

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

I really have no need to say TGIF any more as pretty much every day is a Saturday or a Sunday…… AWwwee – right ?  😉  Up bright and early  and joined almost immediately by my Bride – but in all fairness, she crashed about an hour or so before me….. pretty lazy day for the most part. Ran up to a place that I think is trying to scam my checking account here on the island. I have been wanting to talk to the owner of the joint about it. I’m not sure if he has been hacked or he has a less than honest employee recording card numbers…. hells bells, it might even be him – I dunno…. but I’m dang sure gonna find out~! 3 different trips up there and I never could catch him….. but I ain’t giving up. I will settle this, one way or the other~!

The rest of the day was watching Heartland….. I still am on the fence about it….. trying to get some [cheap] dives lined up and having slightly less than moderate success……. So rather than rambling…. gonna just shut it down here…. thankfully still have some dive pictures left….. Talk to you later~~~

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

Like another [smaller] Sting Ray~!

Dinner last night was un-amazing….. the food wasn’t bad – just wasn’t remarkable, not like our previous fancy night out. We started out with Mussels and a type of Shrimp Scampi… the Mussels were tasty, but out of approx. 2 dozen Mussels, only about a dozen of them were opened and edible. The Scampi wasn’t bad, but we both thought the shrimp was a little rubbery. For entrees, Angie had the Filet while I tried out their Ribs. They were very well prepared (fall off the bone tender) but I was not a fan of the sauce they used. From the sprint I had to make to the bathroom about 05:00 this morning, my stomach was not a big fan of it either. They were served on a bed of mashed potatoes….. now who does that ?? There was also a small ear of roasted corn that was truly unremarkable. My Brides Filet was cooked properly and it was a decent cut of meat, but sorely lacked in seasoning. She said her side of Asparagus was good. For dessert we had an ‘Apple Crisp’ that wasn’t all that crisp and what was supposed to be a Mocha cheesecake that missed the mark by a long shot. All this paired with a server that did a mediocre job at best. The meal in itself wasn’t bad…. just not great. Nice environment…. considering the price of it – all that factored in, we are not in any kind of hurry to go back….. especially when we have Savant to fall back on now~!

Woke up to the end of a fresh rain shower and lots of clouds. That pretty much set the tone for the day…. sprinkles off and on and LOTS of clouds. We could use the rain – so not complaining…. course, it’s still 85° here and our trade winds are finally starting to pick back up — so yay, no complaining here on the weather~!

Rest of the day was doing a little computer work, munching and watching our newest series Heartland. It’s not bad. My Queen likes it…… it’s a bit routine and melodramatic for me – but I’m willing to give it a chance for a while. Nothing planned for tomorrow, but that can change pretty quick…….

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