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Thursday, March 13, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
More Whales!
Here is another whale shot to share. I took this one of a mama and calf, which swam past the boat:
They are so amazing. The mothers have given birth recently and the baby whales are building strength and practicing skills for the upcoming journey North. We recently saw a new-born whale being pushed up to the surface by it's mama: They must learn to breathe as soon as they are born. Even more impressive are the breaches: Diving co-worker Robyn shot this incredible photo of mama and baby jumping out of the water:
Amazing.
They are so amazing. The mothers have given birth recently and the baby whales are building strength and practicing skills for the upcoming journey North. We recently saw a new-born whale being pushed up to the surface by it's mama: They must learn to breathe as soon as they are born. Even more impressive are the breaches: Diving co-worker Robyn shot this incredible photo of mama and baby jumping out of the water:
Amazing.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Diving a ton this month!
Diving for me began mid-month as we started to get more tourists, my brother included. Since then it has been non-stop boats, sudents, dive-shop work, and even a night dive!
The big news this time of year are the whales. I first spotted a returning humpback this year in late November, and just about now in January we are seeing the baby whales with their mom's and escorts. This week we even saw some baby whales breaching the surface and slapping their tails!
I am cold (my new wetsuit should be coming in soon. My current wetsuit is 3 years old and really compressed) and tired and my shoulders ache from slinging tanks. But I am really, really happy!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Dead Booby Bird on Dive Day
Saturday we avoided the Ironman Triathalon (and accompanying traffic closures and lack of business) by going on an employee (and SO's) dive day on the boat.
Our first dive of the day was a "Blue Water" dive in 1200 feet of water out at Buoy ZZ: Far out to sea. This photo shows Buoy ZZ, with a (partially obscured) notation about not tieing anything to the buoy. The bird standing on the buoy is fine: We made sure he was hopping along un-hindered. The bird on the left is dead, it's neck still tangled in the fishing line tied to the buoy. Very sad.
We went on to have a fascinating dive full of tiny jelly critters, then went on to another two dive sites, where we saw sharks and eels and turtles and fascinating ocean critters.
It is very nice sometimes to dive for fun, but I find that I never turn off my safety and watchfullness instincts.
Our first dive of the day was a "Blue Water" dive in 1200 feet of water out at Buoy ZZ: Far out to sea. This photo shows Buoy ZZ, with a (partially obscured) notation about not tieing anything to the buoy. The bird standing on the buoy is fine: We made sure he was hopping along un-hindered. The bird on the left is dead, it's neck still tangled in the fishing line tied to the buoy. Very sad.
We went on to have a fascinating dive full of tiny jelly critters, then went on to another two dive sites, where we saw sharks and eels and turtles and fascinating ocean critters.
It is very nice sometimes to dive for fun, but I find that I never turn off my safety and watchfullness instincts.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Wisconsin
I just returned from a short mainland trip to Wisconsin (of all places...) to meet DBF's son and grandson (I KNOW!, Right?). Beside the family obligations, I had some goals: Cheese, Yarn, and getting photographic proof that there actually were crazy people who surfed Lake Michigan.
This shot was taken in Sheboygan WI on the shores of Lake Michigan. They were amazed that I had heard of the surfspot. (It is in "Step into Liquid" and actually "Surf's Up!" wherein the surfing chicken is from Sheboygan.) they had no tee-shirts to sell me, which is a shame: Someone should be cashing in on that.
This shot was taken in Sheboygan WI on the shores of Lake Michigan. They were amazed that I had heard of the surfspot. (It is in "Step into Liquid" and actually "Surf's Up!" wherein the surfing chicken is from Sheboygan.) they had no tee-shirts to sell me, which is a shame: Someone should be cashing in on that.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Aloha Festival Parade
Saturday I went with my mom to the Aloha Festivals Parade in Waimea. It was a beautiful day! Unlike the famous Christmas Truck Parade, this paticluar parade is known for the horses! And the very young cowboys! I don't even remember which group this little guy was with, but he seems to take his job very seriously. My mother remarked, "No wonder they are bow-legged at such a young age!"
I got some knitting done in between groups. This, apparently was a helpful thing, since the Royal Court appears barefoot on hot asphalt:
They need socks!
We had Boy Scouts with the Flags:
We had the County Band, which we love!:
But the highlight is always the horses:
This is the Pa'u Queen. We have Pa'u Riders representing all the islands and a bunch of other groups. They all work on their costumes, leis, and huge horse's leis. The flowers in the leis represent the different islands: Like orchids for the Orchid Isle and a type of moss for Kahoolawe. It was noted that only in Waimea, home of Hawaiian Paniolo, do the horses in each group match each other, the riders start so young, and the riders really control their horses beautifully! I also wonder if we are the only Pa'u Parade that has so many actual real Parade Wranglers on horseback!
These guys did a great job!
And of course, with horses, come the pooper-scoopers!
Each group of riders gets their own group of loyal scoopers, who all compete for a prize for originality of theme! (And I'm not sh*ting you!)
We had a great time!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Birthday MEME
I've been tagged by Stilaholic Nartian Knits for a Wikipedia Birthday Meme: I'm supposed to type in my birthday (sans year) and list 3 events, 2 births and 1 holiday... (Have you ever done this on Wikipedia? It is awesome: There is a huge list! How to choose!)
3 Events:
1040 - King Duncan I is killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth. The latter succeeds him as Scottish Monarch. (Gotta love this one: Scottish History, AND that unlucky Shakespearean play!)
1843 - The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, Hawaii is dedicated. Now the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, it is the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States. (I'm cheating here: My birthday is a High Holy Day in the Roman Catholic church: The Assumption of Mary. I was a little smartass in Sunday School and when asked when the Holy Days of Obligation were, always shouted out, "My Birthday!"- Extra points because this Cathedral is in Honolulu!)
1969 - The Woodstock Music and Art Festival opens. (Yay! Cold Hippies in the Mud! Punks! They better not be stealing my Social Security to pay for their drug-addled health costs!)
2 Birthdays: (This one is easy: I always mention these two people because somehow I feel more like them than, say Ben Affleck-1972 or Debra Messing-1968)
1769 - Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French (d. 1821)
1912 - Julia Child, American cook (d. 2004)
1 Holiday: (You see how I cheated with mentioning the Holy Day up there?)
Egypt – Flooding of the Nile Day. (Oh yeah: I have actually witnessed this holiday, and although it has been renamed the "Prophet's Birthday" and given the respectible mantle of monotheistic Islam, and although Nasser dammed up the Nile so it doesn't flood, it is still the oldest and most pagan of ritualistic fertility celebrations. The Nile used to flood once a year and deposit the rich and fecund silt all over the crops. Now, flooding couldn't be fun for those involved, but fertile fields fed everybody!)
Tagging: Well, I have no friends. So if you want to take part, please do so. Besides, it is really fun to read the whole list! But maybe if he wants to, I can persuade Adrastas to do this?
3 Events:
1040 - King Duncan I is killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth. The latter succeeds him as Scottish Monarch. (Gotta love this one: Scottish History, AND that unlucky Shakespearean play!)
1843 - The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, Hawaii is dedicated. Now the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, it is the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States. (I'm cheating here: My birthday is a High Holy Day in the Roman Catholic church: The Assumption of Mary. I was a little smartass in Sunday School and when asked when the Holy Days of Obligation were, always shouted out, "My Birthday!"- Extra points because this Cathedral is in Honolulu!)
1969 - The Woodstock Music and Art Festival opens. (Yay! Cold Hippies in the Mud! Punks! They better not be stealing my Social Security to pay for their drug-addled health costs!)
2 Birthdays: (This one is easy: I always mention these two people because somehow I feel more like them than, say Ben Affleck-1972 or Debra Messing-1968)
1769 - Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French (d. 1821)
1912 - Julia Child, American cook (d. 2004)
1 Holiday: (You see how I cheated with mentioning the Holy Day up there?)
Egypt – Flooding of the Nile Day. (Oh yeah: I have actually witnessed this holiday, and although it has been renamed the "Prophet's Birthday" and given the respectible mantle of monotheistic Islam, and although Nasser dammed up the Nile so it doesn't flood, it is still the oldest and most pagan of ritualistic fertility celebrations. The Nile used to flood once a year and deposit the rich and fecund silt all over the crops. Now, flooding couldn't be fun for those involved, but fertile fields fed everybody!)
Tagging: Well, I have no friends. So if you want to take part, please do so. Besides, it is really fun to read the whole list! But maybe if he wants to, I can persuade Adrastas to do this?
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