It's Hammer time!

Yesterday, Goofy and I went on over to Moloka'i for a special-ops dive. It's a little more difficult than most of what's offered by most over here..so by invite only based on skill level, and frankly, if they think you'd be fun to dive with :P

We were looking for Hammerhead Sharks...and anything else that may come on by. Magic was looking for the hammers though...everything else was gravy.

Had to be up and at the boat by 630. Then headed out to cross the dreaded channel between Maui and Moloka'i. It's one of the 5 toughest channels in the world (as far as crossing goes)...OH YAY!

Most of y'all know how I usually turn green on a surge/high waves kinda sea. On the trip over to visit the sharks, we got air in the boat more than once...

OH, YAY!

I made it over though, and it was awesome to be there. Still very pitchy and green face inspiring, but, darn it, it was worth it. Much too rough for a camera, so the pic above is something Magic found on the internet. I'm really hoping that Mike got a good one on the dive, but those sharks are damn quick and hard to photograph.

On the way over, we got the dive briefing for the site.

In previous visits to the dive sites, they've seen as many as 60 hammerheads in a shoal (group of hammerhead sharks are called a shoal - isn't it good to be entertained and educated? lol). They tend to be curious about us divers...and are very good at sending three sharks out in front of the group while one or two sneak up behind. They also like to follow a group when they are doing their safety stops and stair stepping on the dive. Apparently they think they've got us in a "bait ball" and are curious about just what we are doing...LOL.

Once they are seen, however, they become quite shy and take off in the other direction. Generally, they don't get too close (only within about 20 feet or so) before think the better of it and "run away". The sharks like to hang out over near Moloka'i because of the way the currents run through. They can kinda just "hang" and get the rush of the water through their gills. It's also a happy place for them to mate - Hammerheads give birth to live pups. It's pretty rare to witness that, but it's happened.

Once we made it through the channel, the water calmed a bit. Because of the currents that split around the island, this is an advanced drift dive, so we had to get up and off the boat as a group while the captain maneuvered the boat to get us where we wanted to drop in.

We got in gear and stood at the stern (waves washing over our fins) and awaited the "dive, dive, DIVE!" from the captain. As a group of not really seals, we jumped in the water and dropped down to 60 feet. Then we started our tour...in search of Hammerhead sharks.

Once we got in the water, we were amazed at how clear the viz was (even for here in Maui). We could see the terrain (different than other dives we've done), and quite a way out into the blue. As I was diving along, I looked to my right, and saw my first Hammerhead coming at me along the same plane in the water. It just appeared out of the blue in the distance, swimming along toward me. That was a bit unusual, as generally I am either above or below the things I am looking for, but not usually on the same line :)

Anyway...

The shark came along toward us, in no particular hurry, and not particularly close either. It got within about 20 feet before it decided to turn tail and run. Nice while it lasted though.

The terrain out there is a bit different than most of the places we've dived before. Rocky looking, without much else, except...TONS OF FISH. We saw a Leaf Scorpion Fish (hadn't seen that before either), and, oh, some old ordnance from military target practice.

There are bombs imbeded in the walls of the island above the water line too...not so good.

The underwater ordnance is covered in coral now, so they can't explode it without breaking all kinds of laws. So they let it sit there, underwater, just waiting for someone to do something stupid and blow themselves up. It's pretty unlikely though, since it'd take a hell of a line to anchor anything over there.

But still...

we saw more hammerheads on the second dive too...Hammerheads!

How cool is that?!

More later...Aloha from the second home of the Magic and Goofy traveling show!

M&G

Diving the Backwall

Goofy and I headed out to the back wall at Molokini for a great day of diving. Saw a lot of cool things...including this spotted eagle ray





Goofy was hanging above us (at about 50 feet) for one of the dives...so this is the view we had. Musta been lots to see up there, and the air was breathing better too...

Hopefully, the private charter dive on Friday will be a go on Friday...keep your fingers crossed...Goof and I wanna see those Hammerheads off of Molokai.

More later...aloha!

M&G

Nikki Goes Diving

Nicole tried a discover scuba here in maui...very awesome!



Out at turtle reef...



Gotta run...

M&G

A Room With a View

Aloha Y'all!

Here's a quick look from our balcony...




Have a great day!

M&G

Maui at Last!

Finally home in Maui. :)

The skies are sunny...trades are blowing...

We will post pics as we get them, but for the moment, we're planning our day at the beach!

Aloha.

M&G

A Trippy PARIS

As some of you know - from previous blogs if nothing else - I am not a big Paris Hilton fan.

I have little tolerance for people that take their blessings for granted and spend most of their time squandering fortunes that they had absolutely no role in amassing.

That said, as you may know, Senator McCain decided last week to release a campaign ad that - whether you are pro McCain or not - generated a TON of publicity...mostly for using Paris Hilton, and other non-contributing members of society, as examples of Obaman idealism.

Today, Ms. Hilton, in a stroke of something that cannot be called anything but inspired genius (I KNOW! and YES, I am talking about that Paris Hilton, go figure), released a rebuttal to that little piece of unauthorized use of her image.

It's worth watching....maybe there is a brain in there after all...maybe (one day) she'll use it for good (instead of shopping)...

Take a look! It's HOT! LOL.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

I'm a little confused thinking of ParisH in an entirely positive light (at least through the viewing of this video)...I'm trying to be open to the possibilities of change...but I think I just threw up a little in my mouth...

:)

M&S

Spencer is ONE MONTH old Today!

Wow! Can you believe how fast time seems to be moving lately?

I think that most of the time, those of us over, say, 30, can deceive ourselves into a belief that time isn't relentlessly marching on.

We get up, we go to work, we pay bills, we do yardwork, we play, we visit with friends and family...all in a SLOWLY moving continuum.

It's really hard to live that delusion with your niece has a baby. I mean, how can it possibly be that a child I HAVE KNOWN, since before she was born (it's a psychic thing, get over it) can be the mother of a rapidly growing infant son?

It boggles the mind.

How can this lovely child...one that I got to know so well the summer she worked in our store...how can this mere baby have a baby of her own now?

The answer is quite simple, actually.


Time passes whether we acknowledge it or not...so we may as well bite the bullet and take the time to enjoy the ride.

Every day...even the "bad" ones.

If you are still breathing at the end of a bad day, it's not so bad after all...

and it beats the hell out of the alternative...LOL.


Jessica's one of the best, most relaxed, most realistic & reasonable, informed and prepared mothers I've seen - maybe in forever. It's like she was just born knowing how to be a great Mom. Something intrinsic to her personality to know what is best for her son, and doing it.

That doesn't surprise me, really, knowing our Jess. It's just so awesome to see. She gets it all on some level higher than most young women. It's beautiful to see...seriously. Whatever else is going on, Spencer will have the best done for him always. His Mom will make sure...and his Dad too (he's really relaxed and doting too, although this isn't really about him, much, sorry Bill :)

I've digressed even more than usual. This was supposed to be all about how much a child in your life brings the reality of aging right into your face...it's turned out to be a testament to our Jess. But that's OK...I don't think that she can hear that enough either...

In the meantime, I have to say, I don't really feel a day over 27 - for the most part. There are also days when I feel about 127...you KNOW what I mean, LOL. I know that seems a random number, but whatever...

And yet, with Spence, I know better than that.

He's ONE MONTH OLD today...Already...where the heck is the time going? And why so fast? When he's a bit older, I will ask him to stop growing so fast..to enjoy every second of his childhood.

Because, regardless of what we all thought...grownups do NOT have it easier. It's the kids that do when they are in a good family that loves them. Think about it...in exchange for following a few rules, someone else pays for EVERYTHING. If we'd known then what we know now...LOL.

Enjoy the days and hours, my friends. They pass by way too fast.

M&G

Goofy Visits the Angels

Today, Goofy got the opportunity to be on the runway at Boeing Field when the Blue Angels were taking off to practice for SeaFair.

What a huge dose of FUN HAVING! Photos at runway level are soooooo cool. Check them out!

On Your Mark!

Get Set!

GONE!

And The Marines come by in Big Bertha...



Have a great weekend...where's my camera? I wanna go chasing Angels too!
M&G

Random Specificity

I'm going to have something interesting to say...but later on...I need coffee now.

So until then, here's a kitteh to make you smile



HAPPY FRIDAY!

M&G
For those that wonder what the hell it's about...click here...no here...ok really, HERE!

I've Been Waiting...

For nearly two hours now, I've been on "online support" hold.

Initially, it gave me an "approximate" wait time of 27 minutes. Then it began to slowly count down (not in real time, mind you, but downward).

Six was my favorite waiting spot...I can't really tell you why, other than I was there for quite a long time - and more than once, as the approximation went up a couple of times - I'm not so fond of seven.

I'm in the hell known as "MobileMe Support".

They are looking "forward to answering (my) questions", although I'm beginning to doubt the sincerity there.

Tease me with the ever so slowly downward ticks toward the time when I might be "helped".

At the 3 minute mark, I had a personal issue that raised a quandry.

Since it had been 3 minutes for so many more than sixty seconds, and since I'd been drinking tea while sitting anxiously awaiting my 27 minute "line", I was now needing to visit the restroom.

Past often predicts future, so i thought it might actually be more than a 3 minute wait until my turn actually presented itself.

But...

WHAT IF?

What if, in the sixty seconds it'd take me to get to the bathroom and back, time actually accelerated to more closely match reality?

What if, while I was hurrying to empty my bladder, "Josh" or one of his equally happy-named colleagues logged into my window, looked around, saw no one there, and left?

Argh!

(As an aside, since I started this post about 10 minutes ago, it's been "1 minute" until my turn, LOL EDITED TO ADD, it's now been nearly half an hour of my "1 minute" wait - I begin to wonder...AM I EXPERIENCING A TIME WARP? WOULDN'T THAT BE COOL? HEH :))

I took the chance, as the alternative was sufficiently unpleasant as to give me the added conviction that I could make it there and back.

So...I went.

Got back in 45 seconds too (or 1 nanosecond in Apple time).

And guess what?

I had 4 minutes until it was my turn.

If it wasn't so damn funny, I'd cry.

Typically, Apple doesn't have these kind of customer service issues.

Then came (dun, dun, DUN!) the release of the re-tooled .mac, called "MobileMe".

To give Apple its due, the promises of this service are very appealing. Sync your phone, your desktop, your laptop (work or home) into one area so that they all have the same information.

Hell of an idea.

They released it a bit before it was completely formed. Premie by about six months by the feel of it.

This queue online for help is a pretty good indicator that I'm not alone in my frustrations with it.

It does some things well.

Others are pathetic. I have one desktop (windoz), two laptops (both Apple) and an iPhone. So...you'd think I'd have a total of 4 possible calendars to sync.

Then why (oh, WHY?) do i get 21 calendars when I do a sync?

This is the question of the day.

I am being teased mercilessly with the idea that eventually "1 minute" in my world will jibe with "1 minute" in Apple land.

I actually have to leave the house soon...well, in an hour...I wonder if I'll have my turn before I have to leave?

Wishing, and hoping, and praying....that I don't have to pee anytime soon...

Cheerios!

M&G