dive #1000 & the fishnado Aug 20-27 2016

Dive # 991-1008 August 20-27 2016 Bonaire
Less than  three weeks ago I was playing around with the computer checking airfares and WHAM!  First class on United  $857.81  and coach $537.81. The "new' place we like to stay at sand dollar ocean front condo was available. I had no customers that week and my pet sitter was available..... soooooooo....... off to Bonaire AGAIN!
Seriously, the only way to travel in a somewhat dignified manner is first class. It's worth the money. Your luggage are free, the food (although marginal) is free, you are the first one on and first one off. The seats are never comfortable but at least you are not cramped next to a fat guy that farts non-stop or a mother holding a squirming crying baby that kicks you the entire trip. It's a bit more civilized and breathable.
We dive with "dive friends". They are funny, nice and helpful when you need them. (They fixed Soracha's leaking guage. It needed a "o" ring for the swivel) They "save" mini tanks for me for my shore dives.
We pretty much dive the same "easy access" sites over and over again. Yet every time you dive them you find something new.. Front porch, bari reef (right in front of the condo), windsock, salt pier, dive inn and now a 'new" favorite site: airport beach.
We saw octopus, lots of big tarpon, snooks, an octopus, big lionfish, lots of morays, sharp nose eels, lots of turtles, eagle rays, barracudas and lots of pretty fish.
I made my one thousand dive here.
What made this dive trip a little different is we experienced a "fishnado".
The dive masters at Dive friends told us that we might see a bait ball at the airport beach but this was entirely different.
We did our usual dive on the reef at about 35 feet and then all of a suddenly our front path became really dark.
I mean really dark and it got closer.
It was a massive wall of fish in a funnel formation that actually pulled you into it. It was amazing and cool but then you think, "hmmmm...they don't call these little mackerel fish bait fish for nothing". You could see spots of clearing when you were in the eye of the fishnado. I spotted a giant barracuda, turtles, eagle rays and a monster tuna the size of a volkswagen bug.
We witnessed this fishnado on six of our dives at this site. When we talked to other divers nobody had seen it!
We do have some pretty good go-pro film footage we just have to take the time  to edit it.
We did do some "treasure hunting" and found a new snorkel, a few coins and a single diamond earring.
We did do a night dive assuming we would see "Charlie' the tarpon. We shut off the lights and let our eyes adjust to just the moonlight. We saw a lot of flickering and jittery flash lights in clusters. I think Charlie was busy with those "new" tourists because he never came around to greet us at night (only during the day)
All in all it was a very nice trip. We banged out 3 dives a day totalling 18 dives.
But it is also good to be back home to enjoy the remainder of the summer!

AFA convention 2016

Two weekends ago I attended the American Federation of Aviculture annual convention. This year it was held in Connecticut so it was within driving distance and close to my husband's job.
We made a weekend out of it and made our first stop traveling down to our destination at an English tea house for afternoon tea. And yes it is truly a British style tea house with brewed tea in porcelain teapots. (That is the only way to serve tea! I grimace anytime I think of how some "restaurants" serve tea in a Styrofoam cup using a tea bag in luke warm water......grrrrrrrr. Only thing worse is microwaved tea. yuck) Anyways, it was pleasant stop over. Tea, pastries and little sandwiches.
People from all over the country (and world for that matter)attend this  avian convention to hear speakers, meet up with specialty groups, make contacts, socialize, compete in the bird shows, and buy stuff.
I attended a couple of the seminars which were really interesting. One speaker from Canada is in charge of HARI (Hagen avian research institute) I was interested in hearing her talk to see what new types of food is beneficial for birds. She talked about her breeding program and how they reintroduce birds back to wild. What I found very interesting is a product they use called  clay-cal. it is basically clay that is enriched with calcium they give their birds to help them digest and detoxify. Macaws in the wild naturally eat clay from a particular clay lick area in the amazon to keep themselves healthy.
Some of the other speakers had toy making workshops and ideas to keep our birds mentally stimulated and happy. Some speakers talked about free flight training and other things.
There were different birds people brought with them mostly for show. The bird in the above photo is a palm cockatoo. They are very smart but very rare. They cost $15,000.00 and you need a special permit to keep them. They are quite big and yet gentle and relatively quiet for a parrot.
I met some people there I had met from a different parrot convention in Texas a few years ago.
One of the vendors there I recognized her from years ago when I bought a budgie necklace from her.
One of her newer creations were beautiful hand custom bejeweled bracelets. One had caught my eye with a white capped caique on it that reminded me of one of my long time visitor "Ray" so I bought it. Unfortunately a piece broke off so I brought it back to see if could be repaired. It is a stunning bracelet so I should be getting back any day in the mail.
I also bought some toys for the birds and Christmas cards. ha!
All is all it was fun and interesting convention. my husband spent the day swimming in the pool. yeah!

Yankee Home Coming 2016

For last two weeks annually Newburyport has their season Yankee homecoming event. They have concerts, parades, art shows, fireworks, street performers, side walk sales, road races etc.. It's a pretty big deal for the residents of Newburyport as well as a fun event for summer tourists.
I go to it every year.
I really enjoy the art show and the side walk sales. The fancy bridal shop usually has this major clearance sale of all their formal dresses. I find the most gorgeous la de da dresses there for only $15.00! The original tags say $395.00! I happen to wear formal wear when I attend the NHSPCA gala event in November. I generally take my bike to this event since parking is limited. it was quite the challenge to bag up the gown and take it home riding my bike!
My cousins are usually very active participants in the NBPT event. One year Kim was in charge of the pet parade. Her brother  Kenny was the designated as the pooper scooper. He followed along with his wagon filled with ca ca bags. Kim also marched in their parades holding signs for local politicians.
This year, I participated in their fitness demonstrations. My zumba teacher asked her students to participate so I gladly participated in the outdoor zumba class at market square on tuesday and thursday.
* (In the above photo that is yours truly in the grey sweat pants and blue tank top! This photo was on page 11 on the weds August  3rd edition of the Newburyport daily news!)
It was really hot that day but luckily I positioned myself in a shady area. My cousin Kim was there watching and taking videos. Despite feeling sick from her chemo she still came to cheer me on!
Great fun!

July 24 2016 dive # 989 & 990

* photo of taken from internet of Folly Cove

July 24 2016 dive #989
We couldn't have picked a more perfect day. 80F with a breeze. It wasn't that oppressive heat we had the day before. Thank God!
As I look at every day as a gift I cherish my good times with my friends . I am blessed that I have spent over 20 something years (23?) as a crew member aboard Easy Diver. I wish it could last forever.
Captain Fred is having some serious health issues. I hope and pray he will be OK and back to his ol' cantankerous self. One day at a time, as they say. One day at a time.
We did have a wonderful day. Fred and Chris were running the show. Pete was present sporting his new "choppers". (and he was quite proud of himself.)
 Kate, Amy and her newbee student were also onboard as well as our pal  Bill L.
We anchored at Folly Cove, which is my favorite site.
The water was calm with a temp of 65F. It was colder at 20 feet. The viz 25 feet. My ears cleared right away. I think because the water was warm and I practice clearing my ears in the morning. (I know it sounds weird but it works) There were lots of cunners, baby moon snails, a huge horse shoe crab, crabs and good size lobsters.
dive #990
I popped back in the water for a second dive. There is something so therapeutic and soul cleansing when you are underwater. I sort just poked around and then I was looking for BillL since he was snorkeling on the surface. I thought I could be a brat and give him a scare but I didn't see him.
We ended the dive with a royal feast. In a combined effort we had all kinds of fruit, crackers, chicken drumsticks, bean salads etc.. I was happy to see the Captain eating too.All good healthy stuff!
Indeed a most spectacular day....

"style..is no fear of death"-Prince

*Kim took this photo of a rainbow after the sky rumbled and rained a bit after we paddle boarded.
A ray of hope?
A person's character is defined on how they handle adversary.
 I am astounded at how pragmatic, take charge and strong my cousin is handling at what faces her.
The first thing she did was took care of her personal business to make sure her husband knew what was going on. Instead of retreating , she went out with friends.
She urged me to go to for screenings and check ups. I finally made an appointment with the "lady" doctor. I haven't had this kind of check up in a decade. I almost backed out again mostly because getting an appointment was a hurdle. I waited 30 minutes on hold just to make a simple appointment. The first appointment I could get is in the fall but at least I made the appointment.
Meanwhile later that day, I talked to my cousin and she said she was on the phone all fucking day trying to schedule appointment for consultations etc... and getting grief from some of the staff that possibly her insurance may not cover the visits and something about getting referrals, blah blah blah. I thought to myself, "are you fucking kidding me?" It's bad enough you get shitty news but now you have to go through this stupid crap as well?" It is psychological torture. There is nothing worse than being stuck on hold listening to "muskrat love' and "please hold...your call is very important to us". It's like being stuck at the RMV. This "system" is obnoxiously ridiculous.
We went to beach for a few hours just to chat and hang out. She had a long sleeve top on, sun hat with a sun umbrella while I was in a bathing suit  with only sunscreen on my nose. She has always been  the smart sensible one.
She had to use this device to measure her breath by sucking on this tube. (Her doctor was concerned about her lung filling with fluid so she had to monitor it) In our typical style we were joking about it in a very ribald way calling it the "Monica Lewinsky". She could barely work it because we were laughing so much. "Moooonica...Mooonica! Oh that guy over there is w-a-t-c-h-i-n-g yoooou!
Despite our joking around we had a very real frank talk. She is honest and realistic. That is rare quality in a person.
I am hopeful that the doctor she picks at Mass general will have reasonable options for her.
Meanwhile, I am here.

paddleboard

* my cousin Kim took this photo of me clowning around on a paddleboard on Lake Gardner.

One the the reasons I love living up by the seacoast is that my cousin lives nearby.
She is always motivating me to do stuff. Over ten years ago when I first moved up here we attended a woman's" realize your dreams" workshop. And of the course  during the event  I was being my usual smart ass self whispering to my cousin, "oooh do you feel 'empowered' yet?" (The word 'empowered" is a word used quite frequently ad nauseum in women's workshops) The bottom line was that we both ended up starting our own pet care services thanks to her giving me the right push!
She (with great patience) taught me Spanish lessons. I would do 'extra credit' assignments making comic strips using spanish. I thought it was hilarious but I think I tested her patience with my juvenile antics more than once. (No doubt I would've been "frog-marched" to the principle office if I were a middle schooler!) The bottom line is when I recently visited Mexico I could speak and understand a bit of the language thanks to her.
We had done yoga together and just recently, zumba. There are certain songs at zumba class we both like and some songs we make faces at each other. When I am with her I am like a thirteen year old brat!
In the summer on hot days, we would head out to Lake Gardner with her dogs and swim outside the designated swimming areas. The dogs loved it as well as we did. We had our own private beach.
A few weeks ago we tried paddle boarding. As you can see from the photo above I was clowning around. I would lift one foot up and salute. I figured out of our group: Kim, Joey and my husband, I would be the one to fall off the board into the drink. Everyone else was careful on the board.
However, my cousin stumbled and fell backwards in the water. It was unexpected and it rattled her.
In addition to keeping an active lifestyle, she was always very good about promoting healthy eating. She bought me a super "super foods" cookbook which I use quite a bit. She would urge me to get regular check ups and "make sure you get your boobs squished". "Are you taking your vitamin D and calcium?"
Last week, she had a bit of a stomach ache and at the same time she said her lungs felt congested perhaps due to allergies. She went to her doctor figuring it would just be something routine. I get a call from her husband saying that she is in the hospital for a bunch of tests. I figure the doctor are just being super thorough. Kim said she felt OK. The doctor kept her overnight and there were more disconcerting tests.
The results were not what we expected.
When she told me what the doctors told her I felt like a mouse on  a glue-trap.
 Shock and disbelief. I was hoping in her usual Jim Carrey style of humor would say, "HA! jus' jokin'!"
But she didn't.
The big "C"
How can that be possible?
fuck fuck FUCK fuck
It is like the paddleboard. I should have fell off not her.
 NOT HER....

"style..you got it"-Prince

As you know I'm an artist.
I bought a pair of black boots at Goodwill for less than a dollar. Oh boy! A project!
I totally reconstructed them. I fixed the soles and added a new insole, and then I repainted them with purple metallic fabric paint.
Painted the heel and toe end with silver metallic paint and added faux jewels. I placed a dove picture from a bird food package in the center of the glyph.
Pissa, eh?
I'll be wearing these at the fashion show in October.