Monday, June 23, 2008

Open Water

Goldfish Bowl

I went on my first dive this weekend. It was awesome! I was introduced to a whole new underwater world. It had just been lying there in wait under 30 feet of water. It was a totally great experience and I can't wait for my next dive...but I must admit that I was really nervous. I had a momentary panic attack on my second dive. Fortunately, I had a great dive instructor, Michael from Anacapa Dive Center, that got me through it. I am actually a little relieved that I had a moment of panic. It gave me a bit of confidence. I am really looking forward to the next dive when I can relax a little more and just enjoy what is going on all around me.


The dives were at Anacapa Island. The Raptor took us to three different locations: Windfield Scott, Goldfish Bowl, and one other one I can't recall the name of. We saw a Bat Ray, an Angel Shark, and a Spanish Shawl nudibranch on our first dive. The Spanish Shawl was my favorite. It is this incredibly vibrant little slug looking thing with a purplish/bluish body and orange gummy bear like spikes coming out of it. I have never seen anything like it before.


The dives were all in Kelp forests. I never thought kelp was anything special but swimming amongst it underwater really changed my mind. The kelp was gorgeous. The little bulb bits seemed to emit their own light. It was something magical and other worldly. It was very dream-like "floating" through the kelp. It was like nothing I had ever experienced, the way the light filters through the water and between the kelp. It was crazy to be swimming through the kelp looking up at schools of fish. I really can't wait to go again.





Thursday, June 19, 2008

Feeling Like a Kid Again



I fell off my bike today. Not only did I fall off, but I also have the grass stains on my knees to prove it, which I had the privilege of sporting all day at work. Now most people would say "big deal you fell off your bike..." but it was really the gracefulness of the fall that I got a kick out of.
Everyday, I ride my bike along the road in the designated bike lane which is a fine and easy way to get around town. However, on the way back to work from lunch I happened to be going the wrong direction in the bike lane. Usually it is not that big of a deal because I am the only one in the lane during this hour of the day, except for today. I ride a pink beach cruiser. She is not very fast and she is more for show than for serious biking and around here there are a lot of serious bikers. So I am heading down the bike lane, the wrong way, straight for one of these uber serious bikers. Trying to be nice and give him the right of way, I pulled over into the grassy ditch. That is where I made my fatal mistake. The ditch was bumpy, slippery,and slanted into a gross trench full of green slop. As my wheels started hitting the bumps my feet flew off the pedals. I should remind you that I am on my way back to work so it is not like I am wearing tennis shoes. I am in fact wearing high heals! As my feet were flying off the pedals I gave a little yelp. The ponytailed, spandex wearing, uber biker thought I was exchanging the "I am so excited about life" greeting, so he gave an excited "yahoo". That was when it was all over, the yahoo set me completely off balance and I went tumbling down the ditch right in front of all the windows in my office. Thank goodness it was lunch and no one was back yet. Unfortnately, the 10+ gardeners at my building don't take lunch. I am sure they all had a good laugh.


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Monday, June 16, 2008

Mary's Visit

Mary came to visit last week. It was great fun. We took her to all of our favorite spots and we discovered a few new ones as well. We went whale watching on the Double Dolphin. It was fun even if we didn't see any whales. It was really nice to have family from home. We miss you all and hope you will come out to visit sooner rather than later. Mary helped break us in as tour guides!!

And the winner is ......


Sunday, June 8, 2008

Lunch Break


Sure makes any sandwich taste better!!

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View during lunch break.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

My commute (video)

I use to hate getting in my car after work. I would sit there not moving for more than an hour. It would stress me out so much because I would be thinking of all the things I could/should be doing.

Now I love my commute!!! Check out the video!




Sunday, June 1, 2008

Fish Market


We went to the Fish Market in Santa Barbara on Saturday morning. It was a beautiful morning at the harbor. We got some local Rigdeback shrimp. They are incredibly sweet shrimp with tons of flavor. I prepared them simply.
Drunken Shirmp
1. Boil beer.
2. Add Shrimp.
3. Drink a beer.
4. Drain shrimp.
5. Rip off heads, peel, and eat.