Living the life most people just dream about~

Getting this up a tad earlier than usual as my Queen and I are going out for a nice dinner tonight and I probably ain’t gonna be in the mood and/or condition to write when we get back  😉

Up bright and early to get ready for a couple of dives this morning and had the morning to myself as my Bride slept in right up until the point where I was about to head out the door. I smoked one cigarette with her before grabbing my gear and heading out. Big clouds looming over the dock and one nasty grumble of thunder made us all wonder [briefly] whether we were going to get to dive….. but they lightened up and moved on and we finally took off after waiting an extra half hour for a guy who never showed up…. I have a sincere dislike of folks like that, that think their time is more important than every body else’s……. Finally out to the first dive site with seriously heavy cloud cover, which means my little camera probably wasn’t going to get much use. Happily, I was really wrong~! Even though light was scarce…. I managed some pictures – which is good, because sea life was plentiful~! I have been to both sites we dove today – but J.T. (Dive Master) did a great job putting us on fun creatures….. about the only thing I didn’t see was turtles – but I did get to see one of my big Green Moray Eels, a nice big spotted Eel, Sharks….. lots of shark action~! Sea Cucumbers, Sting Rays….. just 2 very wonderful dives…..

I’m cutting this a little short as I need to get ready to head out for dinner. A new place that we’re both anxious to try. I’ll try and get a couple of pictures and will tell you about it later~~

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

 

 

Slept in the wee tiniest bit this morning after staying up until almost Midnight last night….. wild and crazy party animals that we are. This weird ass internet we have here…. slow enough I couldn’t hardly get in here to write, let alone load pictures – but had enough bandwidth to stream Amazon Prime….. go figure~ Today was truly a down day as I did as absolutely close to nothing as I possibly could. Not sure what got into me, but was just not in the mood to do anything – and thankfully didn’t have to. My Bride, feeling better by now, made us a small breakfast and we spent pretty much the rest of the day watching Goliath. We are now in to Season 3 (last one) and as the season progress’ – I am beginning to understand why the show didn’t make it past the third season. I’m kinda anxious for it to end, because my # 1 fan recommended a show I’m anxious to check out~! I think we only have about a half a dozen episodes left……

During one of our (entirely to frequent) smoke breaks, I saw a big fin pop up out of the water. I thought at first it was one of the many Damsel fish we see close to shore chasing minnows, but a little better look and spotting the big tail fin behind the dorsal fin, I realized it was a shark~! I’m 99% sure it was a nurse shark…. I’m guesstimating 4′-5′ log and it was ‘right up on shore’~! I’m talking ankle deep water. I don’t know what it was chasing [I suspect Urchins] but it required waves coming in to have enough water to turn around and get back out. I pointed to it for my bride and yelled SHARK for the benefit of our new neighbors next door who had just walked out. We all just stood there with our mouths open for the next 20-30 seconds or so as the shark chased it’s meal within mere inches of the edge of the beach. It is the first time in well over a year and a half we have been here that we saw anything like that~!! It is not uncommon to spot the occasional turtle swimming by and even a Sting Ray every now and again – but this is definitely a first~! Hopefully not the last as it was cool as hell~! It makes me want to get out there and snorkel or dive that water that much more now~! For now – I am going to see if I can get some pix loaded for you that you may not have seen yet. 2-Tank dive scheduled for tomorrow morning if we don’t get “stormed” out~!

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

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Long messed up kind of day and crappy internet tonight…. so I ain’t even gonna try.   Sorry~~ Maybe tomorrow ?

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

Today was mostly a down day as we laid around and kinda recouped from the Oktoberfest from last night. We really didn’t get THAT torn down while we were there, but the heat kinda took it’s toll on my Bride. I made us a nice breakfast and we sat and watched our newest series “Goliath“.  It stars Billy Bob Thorton and even though he is a loud mouth punk a$$ actor – I enjoy most of what he does. We are just about through the first season already and have been enjoying it – so “I reckon we’ll finish the rest MmHMmmm”  (reference Sling blade)  The time finally rolled around for the Fish Fry at the Fred that I had kind of been waiting on… so we spiffied up a little bit and headed West. We ran through a pretty good little rain shower on the way – but it did not dampen our spirits as we were both looking forward to some fried fish~!

Our first time at The Fred (the islands newest hotel) – they advertise and kind of cater to the younger more opened minded folks…. very nicely remodeled, a nice pool and right on what is left of the beach. Most of the sand has been sucked out to the Sea leaving a rocky shore – but still have those calm blue waters and sunsets that is every photographer or artists dream……. We had a couple of very well made drinks before ordering our dinner. Because my Queen wanted fish – I opted for the shrimp figuring we could share and taste both. We both got hush puppies with garlic butter as a side. [I thought] the fish left a lot to be desired…. but that is coming from somebody raised on Louisiana style fried fish… so really not a fair comparison. I thought the shrimp was tasty and well done – and the hush puppies were presentable…… so giving it 3 stars. I really can’t condemn the cook…. they gave him some pretty puny equipment to work with……..

We finished our meal and another drink while watching the crown around the pool and the bar -AND a spectacular sunset. I took way to many pictures of it – but you just can’t help yourself….. I’ll put the bulk of them up and you figure out which one YOU like~~ A new week tomorrow and no idea what it is gonna bring. I know I have t try and get DD back and then get DD 2.0 into the shop — I have a bogus charge on my debit card from a local place….. so I may have to go down and confront them (friends say they have bogus charges from this place as well)…and some where in that mix – I hope to squeeze in at least another couple of dives…… so we’ll see what happens~!

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

((We actually have a big 175 lb turtle digging her body pit right now~!!!))

for Alex

Up bright and early after going to bed at a decent hour for a change. My Queen, heavily medicated, slept in which delighted me to no end. Up and finally about, she was feeling much better. I made us a small breakfast and she ate most of hers. We relaxed watching our newest series ‘Cajun Justice’…… neither one of us are very thrilled with it – but it is only one season and has had some entertaining episodes. Last one I watched – showed a cook-off between the officers (they’re all cops) and I saw 2 bottles of the same fish fry mix I use….. kind of like a little dose of ‘home’ for me watching all that wonderful looking food~~~

The plan today was to go out to the East end of the island for “The Caribbean’s biggest Oktoberfest” (they hesitate to mention it is the islands ONLY Oktoberfest) but we went last year and had a really good time. I was hesitant to go because of my Bride’s ‘condition’ – but she was her persistent little self about wanting to go – so away we went. We got out there a little bit early to get a decent parking spot and sat at the local bar (Castaways) and had a drink or three waiting for the festivities to begin. This place has a great little bar pizza, but I held off wanting to sample the ‘authentic German cuisine’. We finally wound up at Ziggy’s (the place next door hosting the event) and got a shirt, a drink and a meal ticket…… we started bumping into folks from the Blues crowd and other island friends and the evening was just swell from there on out. We did finally get something to eat. The Bratwurst was tasty even though I’m convinced it was Johnsonville Brats….. The Knackwurst kinda surprised me a little bit – as it was actually very tasty. My third entrée was ‘German Meatballs’ and nobody is going to convince me that they were not made out of Alpo…… no amount of spicy mustard made them any better…. I tried all 3 of the ‘imported’ beers and the one locally brewed beer made to taste like German beer [NOT]….. I knew better than to  get my hopes up – but with a little bit of chow, some [so-so] beer and lots of good friends and folks having a good time – it was hard not to enjoy yourself. I managed to fire off some fun photo’s so you could enjoy the event with us.  It got late enough and crowded enough, we both agreed some conditioned air was in order – so we bid adieu to everyone and made our way back to our comfortable condo. A shower is in order soon and some sleep..

There is a fish fry scheduled for tomorrow on the West end of the island I’d like to scope out – but will have to see how my Bride is feeling….. so lots of pictures from today…… and we’ll see what tomorrow brings~~

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

 

My Queen has managed to contract a sinus infection and is having a tough time of it. Got her up to the doc for a look over and some meds. Quick trip past the pharmacy to pick up meds and back to the condo. I fed her a little bit and she went and laid down for a nap. Afraid it’s not going to be much of a weekend for us this weekend – but that to shall pass.

Still nothing on DD….. guess I’m gonna have to go up and see what that issue is. Dammit Emmit can’t anybody on this island do their job like they’re supposed to ??

Not much in a chatty mood tonight – so some more pictures from the dive the other day………

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

Got up this morning after a semi-reasonable night’s sleep. My Queen is trying to come down with something and there was a lot of coughing and sneezing and wheezing going on. We had another visitor last night. We got to see her as she started her routine…. but we went to bed long before she finished. I came out to ‘read’ her tracks this morning… a bit of a challenge – but I finally figured it out – we had one turtle, who dug two different nests…. sadly, I don’t think she laid in either nest – but we are in an ‘off’ season – so I’m not really surprised.

The rest of the day was fairly easy… I went up an spoke with Jim up at Blues about some business concerning our up and coming signature tournament….. then a quick detour for a few groceries my Queen was after before coming home for a tasty breakfast and some Dead Zone. We finally finished that series…..[not impressed] and started looking for something new… Before we got into anything very deep – it was time to head up to Blues to watch one of our favorite performers….. a one man band, but he always gives a 100% and is just an enjoyable act.

Lots of booze, lots of friends, lots of conversation…… just a dang fun evening. We wound up shutting them down and now safely back in our little conditioned air nest…….. I have some hot dogs on the stove to hopefully soak up a LITTLE bit of this booze……. wondering what tomorrow will bring… hopefully DD 1.0 as them PoS didn’t call us today about her…….. more FUN dive pictures from the other day……..

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

Up a couple of minutes before my alarm ( I have to get up 2 hours before the time I need to be any where to get my ‘morning stuff‘ done…… it’s sad… I used to be able to be out the door in under 10 minutes…… getting older really does SUCK~!)  Working on my ‘morning stuff‘ and got to enjoy a few minutes of quiet time before my Queen came out to join me – and before I knew it – had my dive gear gathered up and heading out the door to make a couple of dives. Arriving at the boat launch site – to find there is only 3 other divers on the boat… I like it~! Not that I don’t like crowds (cause I don’t) but it just makes it so much more enjoyable not to have to dodge all them folks once I’m in the water…. plus I don’t have to talk to as many folks. I did “re-meet” a guy I dove with back at the beginning of the year — he’s back on island for a bit and it was nice bumping into him… I don’t mind those folks so much…. but diving with the “water-gods” gets to be a lot of  annoying….. But – Boy-0-Boy do I have some pictures for you~! 2 really good dives even though the second one we wound up fighting some current……. I took almost 160 pictures today and have that now whittled down to about 70 pictures…. I’ll share them over the next 2-3 days. Sharks~! Sting Rays~! A couple of close encounters which makes for great pictures~!

I’m gonna take tomorrow ‘off’ to do some domestic crap…. take trash out, clean, yadda-yadda-yadda…. hopefully pick up original DD so we can get DD 2.0 in the shop. Gonna wrap the day up at Blues listening to one of our favorites on stage… so busy, maddening, fun day tomorrow. Looks like we have a really fun weekend in store…. Octoberfest out at Ziggy’s on Saturday [it was a ball last year] and a possible crawfish boil out on the West end on Sunday….. OOh-Rah~! So posts might be sketchy… but I should have lots of fun new pictures for you for a while (I also plan on trying to sneak in another couple of dives Friday if the weather holds up)…… Until then, sport fans, friends and neighbors~~~~~

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

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After a much more restful nights sleep last night – rolled out to no new turtle tracks, some clouds and not a breath of air. We sure are ready for our ‘Christmas Winds‘ here. It really hasn’t got any hotter here – but when our wonderful trade winds lay down and you can’t buy a breath of air……. it gets might toasty, mighty quick~!

After a nutritious breakfast – I dutifully headed out to see the young lady Bob told me about to help expedite my paper work to take lawful ownership of DD 2.0.  After navigating a miserable half hour of bumper to bumper traffic I arrived at her office. Naturally she wasn’t there. I called a furnished phone number, asked a couple of questions and found out I did not have half as much documentation as I needed. Dammit Emmit~! So  I motored back to the condo, called previous owner of DD 2.0 and got needed paperwork lined up to be dropped in the mail. The title was not signed correctly, so I have to send that back – so I dropped it in an envelope and ran up to the local post office. I got it on it’s way and halfway back to the condo realized I left my phone laying on the counter at the Post Office. Dammit Emmit~! Hung a U-Turn and went back to the Post Office as fast as island traffic would allow. Dammit Emmit~! Thankfully – phone was still there…. Halfway back to the condo [again] – I got a phone call from exterminator (Carl) saying he had a cancelled appointment and could squeeze me in today…. (reference termite issue)…… I just barely beat him to the condo. He very quickly diagnosed the issue and since I told him I was paying for it and did not need landlord approval….. launched right into the fix. I use the term ‘fix’ loosely. He took a small needle and injected two small squirts of what looked like a nasty soft drink into the shelving where he showed me previously where the dropping were coming from. 10 minutes tops – $ 250.00 please. Ouch, but from what I understand, that is a really good price [[especially if it works]] and from what I have seen so far it IS working….. Yay~!  I notified the landlord and he was exceptional cool about the whole thing and said just take it out of the rent. Another Yay~!

Trying to enjoy what was left of the day – my bride decided she wanted some KFC….. I required a drink before I went after it…. kind of a bracer for my nerves. Amazingly – I was in and out in less than 20 minutes and it was almost a pleasant experience…. almost. Bellies full of KFC and a couple of episodes of The Dead Zone and here I am….. chatting with you all. During all the goings on today – I did manage to get signed up for a 2-Tank dive tomorrow morning (Yay)….. so even though the day seemed confounding….. I actually got some stuff done and didn’t loose my mind in the process. Maybe I’m starting to become island’ized‘  😉

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

Less than restful nights sleep as my Queen was apparently doing aerobics in her sleep last night and I finally ‘bailed’ a little after 06:00. That’s okay – I just gonna get tired all over again anyway. The plan was to head to the BMV today – as we are now official owners of DD 2.0. Previous owner and friend gave me a price I couldn’t say no to. Even though we have to put a little money into it to get it exactly the way we want – I think we still come out way ahead. Will probably go ahead and sell the first DD, but may hang onto it for a while and enjoy being a 2 car family again – at least for a bit. Anyhow – because today is Columbus/Puerto Rico Friendship Day [here on the island] – all government offices and such were closed (including the BMV) so that plan got shot down pretty quick.

I had a meeting with Fish With A Vet USVI (I am their Treasurer) this morning as well, so my Queen joined me for breakfast there while we held our meeting. I had what turned out to be some of the nastiest Biscuits and Gravy I think I have ever had and from the way my belly is carrying on right now – I think they are soon to be on their way ‘out’. Other than that – I got caught up on a bunch of computer stuff that I missed during my ‘work week’ and spent a nice relaxing day with my bride.

We apparently have developed a termite problem in our kitchen cabinets (about the only wood we have in the condo) so I have scheduled a exterminator in to give me an estimate for that (landlord is gonna love that)… so that is tomorrow or Wednesday. I will try to get new title and registration tomorrow as well. So far a slow week in store….. dammit –  I may have to try and get in a dive or two~!  😉

One new turtle last night – I don’t think she laid – but she did manage to dig up the last nest while rooting around  🙁

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

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