Living the life most people just dream about~

Another morning up bright and early and ready for yet another day on the mountain. Kissed my bride goodbye – picked up my co-worker and headed West again this morning. Co-worker was in rare form this morning, mumbling something about lack of sleep and coffee. Whatever the hell it was – he was definitely in Sloth mode. Got everything up on the roof and tried to get started. In my mind, the sooner we got started, the cooler it would be and the sooner we would get done……. Hmmm…. not so much when one of you is in Sloth mode…. but I pushed, the sun beat down on us, the winds mercifully had laid down a little bit (only 10-15mph today) and by 11:00ish, we had run out of screws and had to quit….. one strip of metal shy of being completely done. Dammit Emmit~! Boss was happy with where we wound up at and I needed to get back a little bit early today so it all worked out pretty good. Got the job site cleaned up and was soon back at the condo cooling off. Angie had a doctors appointment to follow up with her blood pressure. Doc is getting her under control as well – including trying to keep her cough in check.

While she was out, I got a couple of things tied up on the lap top and then settled in for a nice hot/cool shower. I have been having some mean back pain the last couple days. I thought it was our mattress, but now mostly convinced it is manual labor that I am no longer used to. Anyhow – spent enough time with hot water on my back to loosen it up a little bit before turning it to almost completely cold to finish my shower and help cool me down.

Spent a little time watching some TV (we had to quit watching PSYCH…. halfway through Season 4 – they started charging for it…. bastards…… it wasn’t that good – so we just quit watching it. Haven’t picked out a new series yet)  Around 4:30 we decided to head up to Blues to check out a new ‘band’. Turns out it was one guy with one very small powered speaker……. actually though – he wasn’t all that bad. Got a bite to eat – Hung out and chatted with friends. Made a couple of new friends and just overall had a really good time. We wound up shutting them down at 9:00 before heading back here.

Good friends of ours are making their first Discover SCUBA dive tomorrow and have asked me to come along and take some pictures for them. Hell yeah~!! Get to dive with ‘newbies’ and take pictures~! I’m on it~! (Plus I get to ‘sleep in’ tomorrow)  😉  So – I should have some fun underwater pictures for you tomorrow at the least~!

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

Sunrise….

Was trying to catch the sun coming up through the haze……. has was so thick you could actually look directly at the sun….. it took several attempts –

but I finally got it~!

Again – this is sun RISE~!

My work site for the past 3 days –

Pretty nice view~!

Ladder configuration~~  (you can see silver strip on leading corner we had already done)

Hard to tell – but that is about a 12′ drop down to the pool~

Harder to tell – but that is about a 25′ drop just the other side of the ladder~!

Did suffer one slight ‘Aw-Crap’ today~~ (It really wasn’t as bad as it looked)

Another day up bright and early….. another night of coughing wife and scratching dog…… I think I mentioned the fact that upstairs neighbors dog – when he scratches it sounds for the world like some one knocking on our front door. Well dog was in rare form last night……… jeeez~~ I was up and just starting breakfast when my bride came out……  I got to spend a little bit of time with her before lighting out for another morning on the mountain top.

Picked up my rider and showed up in enough time to smoke a cigarette, enjoy the view a little bit before I had to set into work. Better understanding the task and how my co-worker wants it done – we have got into a pretty good rhythm going now and knocking the tasks out much quicker. ‘Boss’ is quite pleased. Today was a bit more of a challenge as the wind was a steady [estimated] 25-30 mph. When you’re perched on less than particularly stable ladder, trying to control a 10″ x 18′ piece of aluminum flailing around in the wind and trying to keep your a$$ from being blow off the roof…. it adds a whole new element to your day. Not to mention it being hot…….. how hot ? DAMN HOT~!!  Three hours into my day up there – I started getting light headed again — -A little worse than yesterday – even though I was taking extra precautions to try and not over do anything. I got done what needed done – but had to stop and keep my head from spinning several times.

Back at the condo, cooled, showered and fed – I am still having issues with the light headedness….. not as bad as up on the roof — just enough to be annoying. Definitely having a chat with Doc about this~! Hopefully, finishing up the job tomorrow…..but this last section is the highest and will be the most dangerous of the peaks we have done. Yes – I will be careful and yes I will do my level best not to get hurt. I have already told ‘Boss’ – that if I’m not comfortable with the ladder arrangement to do this last section – my big a$$ ain’t gettin’ up there~! He understood and agreed. I will definitely try to snap a pic or two so you can get idea of what I have been rattling on about these past couple of days. Until then…. few remaining shots from the dive and maybe a couple random ones.

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

Sargassum continues to pound our beach`~ 🙁

Up slightly ahead of my alarm this morning and settled into a quick version of my morning routine after a semi-fitful night’s sleep again……. altho ermazingly….. I woke up feeling better than I have in a while….. no alcohol and 3 Excedrin Migraines may have helped that situation though~~  🙂

I made me my typical small breakfast and packed a cooler of water and Spark along with a couple of candy bars – and shortly before I lit out my  Queen come rolling out……  I took off for my work assignment – perched halfway up a mountain top, on top of a friends house. For the next 4+ hours, we worked in blazing sunshine with about a 20mph breeze. We stopped after each segment for water and a smoke or two, to cool off and rehydrate [I really hate that word]…. before climbing back up for another hour of capping ridge rows with a 10″ strip of aluminum. No pictures, as we both were in precarious positions throughout the task. I do need to bring my camera up and snap a couple of shots sometime before we finish the job, just so you can truly appreciate the positions we have to get in to get that job down. Just about the time we went into the fourth hour – I found myself starting to get light headed a couple of times – to the point where I had to stop for a minute to get my balance back…… DAMMIT EMMIT why is this happening???  Only thing I can think of is between the heat, new BP meds and my advancing age…… I don’t deal with the heat near as good as I used to…… DAMMIT EMMIT~! I did however, make myself stop and get my “stuff” back together, before putting myself in harms way.  I think the ‘young’ guy I was working with took a little bit of pleasure in knowing he was out working the old guy – but I don’t care — well, actually I do, it burns my a$$….. but at this point, not a hellva lot I can do about it without getting myself hurt…… and I just flat ain’t gonna do that….. besides, he counts on me for a ride to and from the job site (or walk a couple of miles) so he doesn’t give me a lot of static about it.  😉

Done for the day……. cooled, showered and about to have some spaghetti before hopefully a better nights sleep and doing the same all over again tomorrow. Pictures from there tomorrow – maybe. For tonight….. more dive pictures +.

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

Banded Coral Shrimp~

 

Dammit Emmit…….. That little bit of running yesterday ended up with a quick meeting at Blues. After the quick meeting….. we decided to sit and chat and visit for a while. Folks just kept filtering in and we kept sitting and chatting…. and visiting…..and drinking……. Oooh boy…… finally got to be well into the afternoon and we still had to pick up laundry. So we loaded into DD – and headed across town to pick up our laundry….. then on the way back, stopped at a new local pizza place to try out their pizza. After 35 long minutes – I finally had my pie and a hot meatball hero sammich for my bride. Sadly….. the pizza was not near what I was hoping for….. course… being hot and tired with a belly full of vodka may not have helped….. I managed 3 pieces before crashing soundly on the couch…… so— no blog or FB…… OOps  😉

Today was a case of the Blahs [or remnants of Blues] and we didn’t do much until 5:00 when we had to load up and take off for a meeting of the local dive club. Turn out wasn’t as big as usual – but an excellent presentation on the nesting habits of Green Sea Turtles (the kind we had on our beach last year) and it was interesting to listen to and compare what they said about what we have learned about them. I spoke with the young lady who gave the presentation afterwards and she was excited to find out about the activity on our beach. She said she would contact me this week about becoming part of their team. The best part of that – is I will be included on their permit – so I will now be “Legally” allowed to handle the turtles if necessary. They are endangered species and you are not supposed to interfere with them in anyway unless you are ‘permitted’ to do so. That will be a good thing. Now back here and feeling slightly better – I’m gonna put up some more pictures from my dives the other day and maybe one or two from tonight’s meeting. Helping a friend up on his roof the next 2-3 days…. maybe that’ll help keep me away from Blues~~~  😉

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

Rolled out a little bit earlier than I wanted to this morning – but that whole wet the bed or not thing kicked in again and options are slim at best~~ Excited about getting to make a couple of dives spurred me forward….. face, teeth, hair thing and I was ready to face the day…..mostly. I think we need a new mattress on our bed…. but not sure if that is the issue or not. I have been trying some sleep ‘stuff’ Daughters have been sending – but still waking in the morning not quite loaded ‘for bear’…….. My bride rolled out shortly behind me and we both settled into our current wake up routine…….. I made me a small breakfast to boost me for what I figured to be an active day for me……. and was soon loaded into DD headed for the West end of the island. Not having ‘buddies’ to go with me – I was once again the ‘lone man’ on the boat – but am getting used to it as I sat and watched the gorgeous weather and our beautiful island as we headed out toward the first dive site. We headed toward my very favorite dive site (Armageddon) only to find out the current was much to strong for an enjoyable dive. We motored out toward Sandy Point (farther South) to Alien Nation. I have dove that site before and was very under impressed…… and it remains that way……. 2nd dive site was a new one to me….. Spanish Anchor….. named after a large anchor from a Spanish Galleon from the late 1700’s. The main part of the anchor is now mostly hidden from view from being encased in coral – but you can still see the shank of the anchor and the ring to which the ropes were tied. Very, very cool to see it – knowing you are looking at some very old history~! A little better site and a very enjoyable dive as I got to, what Dad always referred to as “bottle ass” around on the site. The best way to describe it – is – imagine slightly spinning an upright empty bottle…. the way it kind of meanders around in no particular pattern. Dad always said – “I did that a lot”  😉    An enjoyable dive…… and while there were no ‘really cool’ sea creatures to spectate….. I thoroughly enjoyed the dive. I got to try out my hand at some ‘artistic’ shots with my camera, but sadly did not fare well with them – fun none-the-less~~~

Finally back at the condo with my Queen – gear rinsed off, showered and working on getting something solid in me……My Queen has been ‘plying’ me with Vodka/Cranberry steadily since I got home……. I wanted to get this written and some pictures loaded for you before I become incapacitated…… 😉    I Hope you enjoy the pictures… I took 90+…… saved 50+…. will spread out over the next couple of days…… A little bit of running tomorrow…. maybe a pic or two from the day…… maybe not~~~~~~~

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

 

As suspected – today was mostly sitting on the couch taking it easy after a long tough day yesterday followed by a lot less than stellar night’s sleep. So nothing really to ramble about and no new pictures……. I do have a 2 tank dive scheduled for tomorrow morning and while my dive buddies have already bailed on me – I intend to go ahead and make the dives anyways…. so I should have lots of good pictures and a tale to tell tomorrow~~~

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

JUST back from a tough, tough night up at Blues…… we bar backed for them and got our lips worked off. We’re both sitting here soaking wet with sweat trying to cool off a little bit before we jump in the shower. I told my Queen – I don’t see how some of these folks go home after a night like this one and don’t have wonderfully marvelous conditioned air to soak up when they get there…… all what you get used to I guess, but for us more seasoned folks…. it is almost a necessity and it sure does feel good……. tomorrow I suspect will be a recovery day for us….. and then I’m making a dive Sunday morning……. but for now – I’m gonna leave it here with you. I did manage to squeeze off a couple of pictures during the course of the evening and now with decent internet – I should be able to get them loaded for you……..

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

Told dear friends I would meet them at their office at 09:00 this morning to get some stuff done for them. I rolled out well before my 06:30 alarm and commenced with my day. Surprisingly, my Queen rolled out shortly after me. I always feel bad when she does that because I know she is doing it to be ‘up with me’ before I leave.  She says other wise, but I don’t believe her…… but I do not like “leaving” her while I wander of to work or dive……… what to do, what to do~~~~~

I loaded up and was out the door by 08:30 (two different times – long story) and headed West…….. I showed up and went straight to work crawling in under a sink…… not an easy task for a big feller….. but I squooze in there, made a couple of ‘impromptu’ adjustments and within 20 minutes had their sink working to their satisfaction…… as I told them – it ain’t pretty – but it works, and working on a budget – that’s all they were after…… I cleaned up my mess and headed out doors to work on their roof…….. wow — Two ways to do this job…… correctly and the most cost efficient ‘Island’ way to do it….. I worked diligently for the next 4+ hours or so….. and happy knowing, the next time it rains they should no longer have a stream of rain running down their interior walls. It got to be 2:30 or so in the afternoon, and  the OLD FAT boy had about hit is limit. As it turns out, even though both owners had the bulk of the day off – they hung around to make sure I was ‘okay’ while working……. sweet, but annoying…………. I had a massive eye opening with my health while back in the states, and I have not so willingly accepted the fact – I have to go a little slower than I am used to. Which I did – a couple of times…. making sure I didn’t get overly light headed, or over heated, yadda-yadda-yadda………………….. Don’t like it – but a lesson learned is a lesson learned……..

Happy with the job I did for them…. I cleaned up my mess and headed back to my Queen in the middle of the island….. Most of my ‘pay’ for this job has been covered with a couple of scheduled dives with Shawn & Cynthia…. and I am totally good with that. I have to put together an estimate for them now for a lean-to type porch on the front of the office.  It’s been a hundred years or so since I had to write an estimate like that, but I am looking forward to drawing it up. In the meantime – plan is to be up at Blues tomorrow morning to knock out some painting Jim wants done….. only to return in the afternoon to Bar-Back for an event they have planned. While I took ZERO pix of my work today…. I promise I’ll get some of the event tomorrow night at Blues………..

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

 

After a presentable night’s sleep – got up and got going much earlier than usual. Ran out to the West end of the island to look at a list of things the fine folks at Gecko Island Adventures are wanting done to their office. There are a couple I promised to get to quick as they need to be done. Connecting the drain to the sink and stopping water from coming in when it rains. They also want a porch added to the front of the office – but that project will be a bit yet. I got all the measurements I needed while my Queen chatted with the owner (Cynthia). We finally loaded up and headed back – stopping at The Home Depot. That particular task usually infuriates me – but I got everything I needed for the first two projects and this visit went mostly smooth and we left without me wanting to throat punch somebody – so that’s a win~!

Neither of us had eaten yet, so we stopped by Blues. Angie had some wings while I tried out the Chicken, Bacon, Cheese, & Guacamole sammich. My sammich was tasty but I like the turkey better~~ We sat and chatted for a bit before coming back to our wonderful conditioned air here in the condo. I did a little pre-work for my project tomorrow and then went for a refreshing cool shower. (It also helped perk me up a bit as I was starting to drag coming down off the alcohol) My Bride is gaming and appears to be ‘in to it‘ – so I thought I’d go ahead and get my blog done while she plies her strategy to the game.

Chatted with my baby Sister who apparently had some complications of her own with her heart (I think she’s just trying to keep up with me)  😉 and discussed our impending visit. Her oldest Son is getting married in early September and we’re flying in for the wedding.   May have to whoop me up another sammich as lunch is starting to wear off…. maybe a nice cold beer with it~~ Dunno~~ Maybe a couple more episodes of PYSCHED…. I watched several episodes last night after Angie went to bed — It’s starting to grow on me……

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

Relatively easy day today finishing up projects from yesterday…… spent way to much time on the phone with new router tech support – but finally have new router working (and doing great so far) – got an appointment made to get seal around the windshield replaced…did a big trash haul including the huge pile of accumulated empty boxes, assembled the cart to hold my Queens new TV trays she wanted, ran up to the drug store and replenished BP medicine and then to another to replenish my Actifed and then came back for some R & R. So – DD back on the road, transmission gone, new router working, assemblage completed…. by golly – I think we’re about where we should have been when we got home over a month ago…….. island time~~

We finished up The Closer.…. we both thoroughly enjoyed the show and hated to see it wrap up….. so the hunt is on for our next series. I have 3 different folks wanting some work done – so I guess it’s about time to get my now much larger a$$ off the couch and start doing some work….. besides I need to trim down a little bit so I’ll be a little bit more streamline in the water for SCUBA diving…. which I really want to get back into.

Leaving it here….. maybe more to write about tomorrow……..

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