Some of my friends have been wondering what I have been up to lately and where I have been.  Well, last December I joined 7 SCA friends in getting certified to Scuba dive. A trip to Florida in March confirmed my interest in this fun and challenging sport. I have spent most of my time in quarries and sink holes which is a little more interesting than it sounds, looking a school buses, airplanes and sunken boats.  What I really want to see are tropical fish, though.

I have completed 23 dives and 4 specialty classes so one more dive will make me an Advanced Open Water Diver.  My specialty courses were; Night Diving - very cool and a little creepy. Navigation - a total fail I must admit but I got the card anyway.  Nitrox - Which is learning about a different oxygen mix. Today I took a class in Advanced Buoyancy. The goal is to learn to float at your desired level without touching bottom so you can look at the reefs and under water creatures without touching them.  This class went well and I also learned to manage my breathing so I don't use as much air.

Even though we are under water for only 30 - 40 minutes it is a hellofva experience and one I am really enjoying.

That said - 4 dives today and helping Keith and Mari yesterday and I am stiff and sore.  ;-)   What a great feeling.

My friend Bill came over this afternoon and evening to take my no longer used desktop computer that was upstairs (working 100% off the laptop now) and bring it to the living room to run into my TV. See, Bill encouraged me (read: disconnected) my Time Warner Cable DVR and cable service so I had to turn them both in saving me almost $100 per month. (Isn't that a SIN?) So now he came over to get the computer set up so I could watch my Netflix account instantly and showed me all the free TV on Hulu. WOOT! He got able assistance fromabetterway and now I can get back to wasting time watching TV!  Except that I am too busy to do it right now but that is also good.

In other weekend news: I really enjoyed the Friends Tourney on Saturday, day tripping with Master Will, Lady Nadja and Baron Daniello. I gave my only job over to Tankred (who asked for it - really!) so I shot archery in the afternoon - another awesome experience. Manus set up a fun event and I may have found my new SCA hobby.  The delightful day was followed by a fabulous chili fest with the hospitable Canton of Nimenfeld and lots of play time with The Adorable Izzy!

I have great friends to share good times with - thanks all.

On another note: My "hobby job" became a "real job" with an actual paycheck this week - the first since August! Phew! Just in time. Thanks to all the folks who had kind and supportive words while I was job hunting and making things happen. I will "pay it forward" and wish the best for all my friends still in the job hunting situation. There is hope!

So... Orlando Bloom and Colin Firth are in Durham, NC making a movie - RIGHT NOW !!!!!  Get out of my way, bit*h - He's mine! Both of 'em (but my first pick is Colin Firth - sigh)

Say what????

http://www.lewrockwell.com/spl/jane-austin-bennet-girls.html

We had a short recconiter at the drop in site for the kayak paddle tomorrow. Three of us have not really kayaked before so we wanted a last minute check & see. All systems are go and we are on for a fun day on the Neuse River tomorrow.

This morning I gave platelets for the first time. I am surprised it took me so long to do it but there are only so many locations set up for platelet donations. In the triangle you need to go to the Red Cross Blood Donation Center on University Drive (off 15-501) in Durham.

The process involves giving plasma and platelets and getting your red blood and some bonus fluids back. The benefit is that you can give platelets weekly. The challenge is that it takes 2-3 hours. I was the first appointment of the day (7am) and was done around 9:30am although I was a first timer. They hook you up to needle in one arm to take out fluids, process the yummy goodness through a machine and then give you back lots of leftovers.  The room is cool in temperature and the process chills you so they bring you lots of toasty blankets to keep you warm.  I did not have a good vein on the left arm (but a super performer on the right) so they had to use a vein in my hand. Not the most comfortable process in the world but it gave me a feeling of empathy with those who are on dialysis or need the platelets I gave.

I am enervated now and plan to take it easy today. Tomorrow I am kayaking so let's hope after lots of fluids and an easy day today, it won't be too hard.


To Gordon: I love you.

What a laid back afternoon and evening. Bill & Kelly came over and Bill got my TV re-set up. I am pulling my DVR unit and downgrading my Time Warner service to Road Runner only! Talk about cutting the umbilical cord!  I have has lots of cable service ever since working for Comcast 8 years ago but really, isn't $144 a month rediculous for TV?  I own movies out the yazoo and a Netflix account so let's see if I can live without too many choices of nothing!  Plus I have friends with DVRs and since everyone is broke or losing/lost/in fear of losing their jobs I really need to encourage TV & Popcorn nights anyway.

We ate out of the fridge and I managed to make a ham & onion quiche and salad and Kelly is baking a cake for desert. I think I amgoing to try to avoid going to the grocery store for as long as I can and eat the pantry down.  Possible? We'll see!

We watched Cat Ballou with Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin and are now watching Bowfinger with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy.  A day of good humor & good comedy.

This is the best Irish Bar Band ever!  They were in the movie "Titanic" (Please don't hold that against them!) They are funny, talented and give an amazing concert!

I am THERE!  Who else is interested?

Wednesday, June 3
8:00pm
Lincoln Theatre
126 East Cabarrus
Raleigh, NC 27601

I just joined ping.fm to update all my social networks at once. Let's see how this works!

The intrepid scuba class of Alaric, Malcolm, Beth Anne, abetterway  pippasparty , lyneya (minus our Fearless Leaders
argentlion and  elizabethanmafia)  are going on a scuba trip to Florida on Thursday. Drive down on Thursday, dive 5-6 times on Friday and Saturday and drive home on Sunday. If we are lucky we may get to dive with a Manatee!  Some of us are taking a Night Dive certification and a few are also taking a navigation certification. Considering how lost I got with my dive buddy, argentlion during our certification free dive I should take the Nav class but the budget, she say no!  I have been swimming some to get ready. Some of us also went to the pool to test our equipment too last Sunday and I am glad I did. After 5 whole dives it is NOT like riding a bike!  I need more time under the water - hence the trip!  Wish us luck!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oQrM