Author: Bill

My morning was mostly uneventful, bump charging everything and getting it put in the truck. That proved to be a bit more of a challenge this morning as the truck was sitting in several inches of some very muddy water. Normally that wouldn’t bother me as I would wade through it and leave my flip flops on the stoop to dry, but first thing in the morning, trying to get the day started is not how that works out…. but I managed and was back in by the time my bride stumbled out. I had time to have a cup of coffee with her before I headed out. Turns out, she took off and got her some beach time while I was out diving and didn’t get back until I was back at the house and cleaned up. I like it~! Diving was wonderful although nothing really exciting (other than the usual) to talk about. I did get a couple of decent shark pictures, a couple of fairly decent turtle pictures, so it was a successful picture taking event. We had a really small boat today… 2 guests, so I had lots of time to experiment with my camera. Today was experimenting with my strobes. I tried several different positions, but I did not like any of the results as much as I do with the positions I am currently using. Next couple of days are much bigger boats (more guests), so busier days ahead.

Just finished up the planning of our next visit back to the states…..ugh…… but– we will land fairly late on the evening of Oct 8th (9:00pm~ish) and flying out early on the morning of the 18th. We will be staying Jeni & Mike in MTV while we are there. No plans made yet for while we are there other than a couple of medical appointments that we feel better getting done in the states than here. When we fly out, we are going to lay over in Florida for a couple of days and spend some time with Rachael and maybe dinner with my big Sister if they can break lose one night. Sorry Lil Sis….. but MI isn’t going to be an option for us this trip~~

Question for you all….. and this is a personal opinion kind of thing, so there is no wrong answer…… Let’s say you go on vacation to a tropical destination. You are wanting to bring back a memento of some sort or maybe a gift for a loved one or friends. 1) What are you gonna get ? 2) How much are you going to spend on it?  This is going to lead up to some similar questions…. but right now I am at my limit and this will get me started toward the intel I’m looking for. You can answer me here or on FB….. which ever is easiest for you. Thank you~~

Good Night Y’all – – – – – – – – – – – – – — – –  Thankx for stopping in ?

Up fairly early this morning even after going to bed [again] way past my bedtime….. I dunno– something about knowing I don’t have to be up at any particular time, makes me want to stay up late, not doing anything in particular or watching shows on TV. Just a feeling I like and enjoy. My Queen faded out fairly early, so I sat on the couch, all by my lonesome, sprawled out in front of the fan enjoying the cool breeze that came from the fan and the rain driven breeze through the screens. In the Dark continues to be more and more intriguing and I struggled to shut it off, even though it was well after 11:00pm, but I did and slid on into bed in our nice cool bedroom. Even though the poorly sealed shutters keep it reasonably dark and I had my eyes closed trying to fall asleep – I could tell there was what must have been a fairly decent flash of lightning….. I opened my eyes in anticipation of another flash, but before I could process that, there was an horrendous pop of thunder and the unmistakable sound of lightening making contact with something. I rarely ever ‘jump‘ at the pop of a lightening strike, but must confess, this one made me noticeably jerk laying there in bed. Entirely too close and too loud for normal comfort. My Bride, long since asleep squirmed a little bit and reached out to make sure I was within arms reach and quickly faded back out when she realized I was there. It would only be about 12 hours later when I found out that, that lightening bolt struck dangerously close to our island kids house launching them into darkness and dealing with electricity loss for almost a whole day. Pictures are up on FB of it. As the crow flies, they only live a couple of miles or so from us. Nasty.

I got up earlier than I normally would have in anticipation of having to get up early tomorrow morning to go diving (and I want to be tired enough to go to bed “early). There is only one person scheduled on the boat, but they are a full paying customer and have been ‘on the schedule’ for a while now — so the boat is going out. Again, another reason I like this shop…. they honor their commitments, even if it costs them money. So I get to go diving tomorrow and with only one guest, will have lots of time to experiment and play with my camera……..love it. It has rained off and on all day, but I managed to get the ATV yard mowed and my bride got a load of laundry knocked out between showers. I have since rearranged our plane tickets for our impending trip back to the land of plenty (at an awful expense I was not anticipating)  but it is done and we now have a nice long visit laid out. Details to follow. We will definitely have time now to see everyone we want. Dinner is almost ready and I need to get camera equipment ready………

Good Night Y’all + + + + + + + + + + + + + Thankx for stopping in~!

Slept in ever so slightly this morning….. following my bride after what I deemed an appropriate amount of time (I was wrong) thinking she was out of the bathroom. I opened up the bedroom and made the bed and came out and opened up the living room before I got my turn in our tiny little bathroom. The day officially underway…… we had our coffee, a nice breakfast. Not sure where the energy came from, but my Queen headed out to work in her ‘garden’. I hung out inside for a bit making sure I was done with my bathroom stuff. I had made myself a respectable little list of things I wanted to get done today and worked on one of the items on the computer while I ‘waited’. A guest had reached out to me late last night requesting to see his pictures from a couple of dives back in March. I told him I would work on it today, so that’s what I did until I was sure it was safe to venture out side and not have to make a mad dash back inside. I re-created two more galleries and got them up for the guest. He acknowledged the effort and loved his pictures. Apparently didn’t appreciate them enough to acknowledge my effort with any kind of tip though. Angie thinks I should start charging people to reload galleries when that happens. I’m struggling with that. I think it would hurt the [dive] shops reputation if I charge to do that, even though I am very clear in telling them the pictures only stay up on line for one month. What do you think ? Tell them yes, I can reload the gallery(s) for $XX. Or just continue to make it a freebie ?

Once I got outside, I started in in the task I dreaded most…… cleaning the gutters. Our gutters are in horrendous condition and the fact that we drink the water that comes out of them should bother me a lot more than it actually does. I have mentioned it to the landlord before, but she has no desire to spend any kind of money,  even though she did pay me to put new tile floor in our kitchen. The gutters are going to have to be hired out. I do not have the the tools, manpower or the inclination to do it myself. I do intend to bring it up again though when I go to pay the rent. They need replaced before any more of the facia board they are attached to rots any further as well, so maybe I can ‘sell’ it as a preventative kinda thing. I just don’t want to pi$$ her off and get booted out of our little abode. Dammit… running out of allotted words…. I also got the lawn mowed and weed eated. Didn’t get to the ATV yard because they were working….so I’ll run in town tomorrow and knock it out. So– most of the list completed~!! Hopefully a lot movie time tomorrow~!

Good Night Y’all _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thankx for stopping in~!

Up this morning a lot earlier than intended but ‘Ma Nature‘ wasn’t going to wait any longer…… that done I settled in for the usual bump charges on batteries as I read the news with my glass of lemon water (yes Neil, I’m still doing that)  Much to my dismay, my Queen came stumbling out shortly behind me. I say dismayed because I really hoped she would sleep in a little bit….. but she didn’t, so I had company while I got my day started. Cameras and batteries all loaded into the truck, I made Angie her sammich and then made me some eggs. I really didn’t feel like eating, but did anyway. I am almost always glad when I do. First dive was at one of our “sharkier” dive sites…. and it paid off.  We had 5 sharks circling us….. nice~! I got one shot of a shark just before he opened his mouth to inhale a Lion fish. I was actually a milli-second too fast on the trigger. Really hard to gauge….. the shark was coming from behind me, so I had to wait until I saw him in the camera frame, to try and judge when to pull the trigger. Missed it by > < that much~! I still think it’s a pretty awesome shot. Until you see it, you cannot believe how fast the sharks are moving when they hit those fish. Wow~! Second dive site had sharks but not as friendly. It also had a couple of eels…. one small one and one big green one, so heads up Vera…..  😉    I couldn’t get very close to either one of them, so it’s not really close ups, but some creative cropping helped.

Got back nice and early…. gear cleaned and hung up for the weekend. I got my shower and the pictures edited and posted super early which is always a good thing…. I then started making phone calls trying to catch people still at work back in the states. Checking in on a much needed part for my camera…… been 3+ weeks and counting and still nothing. Been trying to get dental insurance for me….. Long stupid story why I can’t sign up for it on line. Way too much to go into here, but finally got to talk to a human and believe it or not, they are going to have to snail mail me a paper application…… and then I have to fill it out and snail mail it back……. the stupidity of the whole scenario is mind boggling~! Of course, none of this would be an issue if we lived in the states……… shaking my head~~~~~

Good Night Y’all : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Thankx for stopping in~!

Usual morning stuff…. me and my bride fed….. Angie didn’t have to be in to work until 08:30, so she got to lounge a bit. I loaded up and headed out, about half dreading my upcoming dives because I knew we had a full boat and I just usually never had enjoyable dives with big crowds. I think most of it is in my head, but that’s my issue to resolve. Turns out, I knew most of the people. Four of them were a family I remember from last year and they remembered me and were delighted that I was on the boat. That perked me up considerably. We no longer have our glass smooth water surface, but still plenty calm even though the ‘viz’ (visibility) degraded some. First dive was mostly uneventful as I got to see everybody’s capabilities and learn what our guests were like underwater. All presentably decent divers and as it turns out enjoyable and fun. The surface interval between dives was a lot of fun as everybody interacted with each other. There was a lot of laughing and just overall an enjoyable intermission. One of the son’s in the family is a budding underwater photographer and peppered me with questions. I was happy to answer all his questions. We pulled my camera out and went over it [in fine detail] and I told him on the next dive I would let him try it out if he was interested. I thought he was gonna hug me…. yes– definitely interested~! Next dive just about the time I unclipped my camera and handed it to him…… sharks came in and that young man sat there with my camera and had 3 sharks circling him. He was in heaven. He was respectful, he fired off about a half dozen shots and then handed my camera back to me. I told him if any of them came out, I would gladly give me photo credit on them. You should have seen the smile on his face. As it turns out, I kept 3 of the shots and true to my word gave him credit. I’ll include “his” pictures here so you can see them. He had mentioned he was really wanting to improve his camera set up. I told him, as it happens….. I had an entire camera set [exactly the pieces he needs] and as it were, I was wanting to sell it. (The set up I got started on). He had a heart to heart conversation with his Dad and this afternoon — I met them in town and they purchased all of my previous camera equipment. Lots of satisfaction in that transaction….. this young man got a really nice camera set up for a fraction of the cost of new equipment, it is going to help propel him to some amazing photography and I got to move the equipment. I hated that it was sitting in our spare room collecting dust. I also told him he was welcome to reach out to me anytime he wanted for hints and tips if he so desired. I also got a box full of ‘branded’ pictures, that I am going to put into local shops and our dive shop….. so looks like everything is going good……! Too many words….. dammit……

Good Night Y’all = = = = = = = = = = = = Thankx for stopping in~!

Up bright and early and well before the alarm this morning…… anxious to be diving. Got my morning stuff done and just settled in at the table when my bride came stumbling out. Her day of work so she was up early too. I made us both breakfast and got her on her way and I was out shortly behind her. Traffic was in rare form this morning for me and my normal 20 minute commute took just over 40 minutes……. dammit Emmit. Doesn’t really put me behind because I leave plenty early, I just don’t like it. The winds continue to stay laid down and the water surface is almost like glass. The other perk to that, is the visibility is getter better & better everyday. Not only does it make the dives that much more enjoyable, but that nice clear water really makes my pictures pop~! I love it. Two pretty tame dives. First one, we were at Emerald Gardens….. home of the famous Sea Biscuit….. the island’s biggest ‘sea horse’. Everybody had a good time getting their picture taken on Sea Biscuit. That is always a popular (and beautiful) dive~! Second dive was off one side of an old waterfall from many years ago and the topography is awesome…. especially with this visibility. Had a couple of sharks follow us around, waiting to be fed, but we didn’t have any Lion Fish hunters on the load, so the sharks didn’t get their snacks. I “called” them in, but they came in and turned and left pretty quick, so no bouncing any off of me.  I went up on the nose of the boat as we approached each mooring and it was amazing to look down through the water, You could see the bottom almost as plain as day in 30′ – 40′ of water. Beautiful~!!

I gave another guest a ride out to the resort out on the East end of the island again after diving. Don’t remember if I mentioned that yesterday or not, but it adds about an hour and a half to my ride back to the house. Wound up driving through a couple of pretty mean little rain squalls. Awful how bad the island floods during heavy rains. I just cannot imagine what it looked like during the storms of 2017. Of course, lousy drainage doesn’t surprise me…. like everything else the government does on this island. It’s pitiful. I got a good ‘free’ rinse of my gear laying in the bed of the truck, that’s always a plus. Back here, showered and pictures are edited and posted. My Queen is home and I made her a drink. I finished off the rest of the Tuna salad I made last night. May make a sammich to augment it…… and no Vera— it won’t be gray bologna~~  😉

Good Night Y’all & & & & & & & & & & & & Thankx for stopping in~!

Slept in a bit this morning after staying up waaaay past my bedtime last night watching In the Dark. That series is starting to get some pretty messed up plot twists in it and making you want to watch “just one more” episode. I also knew I didn’t have to get up early for ‘work’ and neither did my Queen. She actually got up first this morning, but I was right behind her. A small [delicious] breakfast and some computer time before she had to head out the door for PT (Physical Therapy) on her shoulder. She is going twice a week now for that now. That left me here unattended and to my own devices. Due to a lack of rain this past week or so, my grass in the lawn stayed in check and mowing wasn’t needed, so I didn’t have to do that. So I piddled…… I put some oil in my truck. I caught my dive log up. I switched my dive computer backed to air. I am now diving with air on my first dive and switching over to Nitrox for my second dive. If the occasion ever comes up that I need to go ‘deep’ on our first dive….. if I am on Nitrox, I’m kind of limited to 110′ or so….. it’s complicated…… and if something were to come up that I did needed to go deep, it is mostly likely to happen on the first dive, so it’s kind of a safety thing for me…. again, unless you’re a diver…. it’s complicated. The second dive I am doing Nitrox because my Queen says she ‘likes me better’ when I use Nitrox…….. and what my Queen wants…….. my Queen gets. Well, except for tonight. She asked to go out for Taco’s tonight and I originally said yes, but later asked to back out of it. Just could not get myself in that mood. Actually, kind of glad we didn’t because it has started to rain and I really wouldn’t have been in the mood for being out in that. (plus I probably would have to run all the way to the truck to roll the windows up)…… It’s cooled off our steamy air we have been having the past day or so because the trade winds laid down, so that’s good. Will get the grass growing again (not good) – but it’ll add some water to our reservoir (that’s good)…… ahhh….. island life. I did make us a batch of Tuna Salad, although Angie kinda rolled her nosed up at it after tasting it, so we can have it on some Ritz crackers while we watch In the Dark.  😉 Diving the next couple of days….!!

Good Night Y’all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thankx for stopping in~!

Greeting and salutations all y’all…… figured I’d better get on here and get a couple of words down before Vera starts warming up a bucket of tar…….. just kidding Vera……. There was a birthday celebration for the Boss one night (well…ya gotta go to those….) and the other couple of night’s I was wrapped up in a movie….. so it’s the TV’s fault.   LOL  Sadly, none of the movies I thought were good enough to recommend to you….. sorry~~

Made a couple of dives today. Less than spectacular…. but still dives. The waters were calm, the visibility wasn’t great, but not bad….. sharks, but not cooperative. I did manage a handful of good pictures. I think I’m getting pickier and just not saving as much as usual. I have been trying to trim down the number I’m taking as well. About 100 pictures per dive is my target unless it is a large number of folks on the boat, then 150 or so. I just found out a couple of minutes ago that there is no boat tomorrow……. dammit Emmit. Apparently the couple of people that were scheduled, changed their mind…… I have some running to try and get done, so I don’t really mind – but would much rather be diving. Exciting huh ??  🙂  Really —- been pretty tame here…. watching a bunch of stupid/dumb/uninteresting movies……….

Good Night Y’all – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Thankx for stopping in~!

Was actually woke up by my alarm this morning (it scared the hell out of me)…. first time in memory I slept up to the alarm going off <<06:00>>. I actually hate that…. I’m normally up by by 05:30…. so I ‘lost‘ 30 minutes of wake up time. Dammit Emmit. I got caught back up and my morning went as usual. Nothing exceptionally noteworthy bout the two dives today. Really small boat (4 guests) but we managed two really good dives. Sharks, turtles and lots of other fun critters to spectate while we swam with them. Back here, pictures edited and posted. Even managed Supper. Mickey D’s from the night before. My two fish sammiches, were mostly bland and very unappetizing….. so I decided to finally make me that fried Bologna sammich I have been thinking about for the past week or so. My Bride got me some “German” bologna earlier this week cause she knew I was craving it. Been a hot minute since she got it and about half of the bologna was now a pasty gray color…… dammit Emmit~! I figured if I cooked the $hit out of it, it ‘should‘ be okay…. I guess time will tell~~~ <<1 hour later>> Our next door neighbors (not to be confused with our Damn Neighbors) dropped in for a visit…. haven’t chatted with them in a bit. Andrea was as nice and sweet as ever…. Mitch was as full of $hit as usual [j/k if you’re reading this Mitch] 😉  A fun and insightful conversation…. they are interested in selling some of my stuff in their stores as well…… They have headed back to their place so now I need to get my brain back on track with you all………. Well I have just reread this and still have no idea where I was headed with it…. Vodka may be an issue…… so I’m gonna quit right here…… Grass has not done much [too dry] so I MAY get away without mowing this weekend….. may. What tomorrow brings will be a surprise…. for all of us.

Good Night Y’all + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Thank for stopping in~!

Up and ready for another days adventure. Got my Queen fed and out the door and was out the door myself a couple of minutes behind her. Fairly full boat today with a group that’s been diving with us for most of this week so far. Good group, pretty solid divers requiring little or no assistance during the course of our day. Heading out to the first dive site, I was being engaged in a rather lengthy conversation when I heard yelling from the fly bridge. Dolphins had been spotted~! Before I could get away from the conversation, grab my camera and get to the nose of the boat…… they were gone~~ Dammit Emmit~! I always enjoy watching them ride the bow wave of the boat. Amazed how easily they keep pace with the boat without hardly any effort. First dive was pretty uneventful…. didn’t even see a shark, which is really odd for that dive site. I was laying under the boat at the end of the dive waiting for the dive to end when the Dive Master starting tugging frantically at my fins. I know that particular maneuver almost always means a photo opportunity, so I spun around and took off in the direction she was pointing, As we were swimming she indicated [what I thought] was a sting ray. Never did see it and she finally shrugged the pursuit off. That is not unusual, especially for that critter (to be gone when you go to look for it). It wasn’t until after we got back on the boat I found out she was talking about a Manta Ray~! Manta Rays are the great big dudes (first picture below) I laughed [jokingly] and said “No pictures – it didn’t happen~!” Kinda my tag line  😉  I’ll be dipped if one of the other divers pulled out their GoPro and produced an image of it. It was fairly far off and mostly blurry….. but no disputing it was a Manta. DAMMIT Emmit~!! Just not my turn I guess. The second dive, I got show off my shark calling skills and did manage to get one to come in for a close up.

Back at the house, cleaned up the kitchen, swept (with our new handy dandy vacuum…love it) the living room and got a shower before settling in to edit pictures. Pictures are all done….. Had a bite to eat and am looking forward to hitting the couch. Just got a fresh candy supply in from Amazon (and I wonder why I can’t loose any weight) and want to hit our newest series In the Dark. I got Angie interested in it last night. So far we are both really happy with it. Another day in the water tomorrow…… may be off Friday….. would be perfect to get my pictures and stuff ready to take to the stores.

Good Night Y’all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thankx for stopping in~!