Happy Leap Year!

They say a female can ask a man to marry them on Leap Year Day. I am sure it is no longer a fopah but it once was I suppose.

So David will you marry me again? Or is one time ENOUGH?

We're Official!

This is from inside the cave which they call the crater. As you can tell the water is very warm, 92 degrees. It was a great place for our first open water dive (meaning not in a swimming pool). We dove down to 45 feet.

I get the underwater pictures back from the developer on Monday. I will add photos then. Talk about dark ages having to go and drop them off and then WAIT to get them back. I love digital!

In the two hour session we did two separate dives. We have to have four dives to get licenced. To make the drive only two time we dive come to the surface for 10 minutes then dive down again.

On Wednesday we dove on dive #3. It went great! My ears equilized no problem and I was one of the first ones down. We surfaced after doing our needed requirements and floated around for 10 minutes.

I made the mistake of floating on my back. I got water in my ears which is not a big deal for just swimming around. However when I needed to go back down for dive #4 I COULD not equilize my ears. Not fun! Finally I descended down to the 20 foot platform and did what I had to for my licence. It felt like I forced the water down deep in my ear and it is still there!

Then when I tried to continue descending the rest of the way I physically could not with my ear. I thought I would ascend just a bit to try to equilize my ear and then descend all over again. However the next thing I knew I was three feet from the surface. Opps, not good not good at all.

I ascended too fast and I did not feel good. Fortunately I was not deep enough to cause serious damage but my head was not clear and I needed to take it easy to get my breath. It was scary and will take some will power to get back under the water again.

Yesterday I did not feel good most of the day. I just ached all over and my ear was plugged up tight to the point of pain. I am all but back to normal today. My ear is not quite clear and I feel just a bit of discomfort in my shoulders.

I am not sure what happened but something did for sure. Anyone have any ideas? I want to go talk to the owner of the scuba shop, just to know what I could have done differently and if I should be doing anything specifically to get completely over it.

Could this be swimmer's ear? Anyone ever have that? What does it feel like? I just keep putting garlic drops in it and it seems to help.

I should not laugh!!!

I was looking for a picture for one of my posts and saw a picture of a four year old flipping someone off. I am of course against such behavior so why did I laugh? I wanted to even add it to this post but did not because it would not portray who I am and I did not want to offend anyone.

I guess the blog demon does not ALWAYS win.

You know it is about that time of the month when... N.R.F.M. (Not Recommended For Men)

(Blog Demon is taking control!)

-You have a bigger temper tantrum than your toddler!

-Your husband gives you 'the look' and you say, "You even say one word and it is the couch BABY!"

-someone ask, "What's for dinner?" You scream, "DINNER, what dinner. I AM NOT MAKING DINNER." Then everyone happily eats leftovers while you soak in the tub.

-You eat a Twix for breakfast, an Almond Snickers for lunch and Death By Chocolate Ice cream for dinner!! Then decided to drive to DQ for dessert.

-the only time of the calendar month people can truthfully say you drive like a woman but if you hear them they had better run for their life!!!

-the kids actually do their chores the first time you ask them to.

-the phone solicitors hang up on you.

-you have to wash your own mouth out with soup.

-dishes become more fragile.

-the men in the family suddenly realize the yard needs an overhaul even in the dead of winter.

-budget, what budget!

-you realize how much your family loves you, unconditionally!

Ross was offended!

It was such a beautiful sunny day that Ross and I decided we needed to have a picnic at the park. Which meant we packed a lunch that I ate while he played. I can't figure out why all my pants are shrinking?

Although it was a sunny day, the wind and temperatures made it rather chilly. There were not many people at the park to play with. I was elected playmate of choice until a two year old showed up. Then Ross dumped me for someone half his size. Since I was hungry I did not complain.

After a bite to eat, I went back to see if I would emerge in popularity to hear a sweet little two year old voice say, "...that little boy..." I arrived only moments afterwards and Ross turned to me and with complete indignation said, "That boy called me little!!!"

I laughed out loud. I could not help myself. All I accomplished was to add insult to injury. Ross said, "Its NOT funny!!!" I assured him it was not (to him anyway) and that his friend probably only thought that Ross was little in comparison to his own dad.

Other friends arrived and the offense was quickly forgotten. As I was telling the family of the incident I realized that this would be like someone say 15-20 years older than me calling me old. It helped put things into perspective but I still think it is hilarious.

Thanks for the laugh Ross!

Happy Birthday Mechelle and Jim!!!

Today is Mechelle and Jim's birthday. They share birthdays just like my Aunt Carol and Uncle Harold. The funny thing is that their birthdays are the only birthdays I can remember of all my aunt's and uncle's. I guess there are some advantages to sharing birthdays?

Mechelle is the best big sister and I have always been grateful for her. She has the most thoughtful insights and is wise beyond years. Whatever she puts her mind to she does. An example of this would be that she is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has ran many marathons.

Spiritually, she is a giant. A person who thinks of others before herself. One of her greatest attributes is that she makes lemonade out of lemons and she learns from every recipe. Her trials have taught her charity and compassion for all. She has not turned inward nor bitter as some do.

I am 6 years younger than Mechelle and when she was in middle school I was in elementary. One day after school I was walking/running to brownies with all my brownie friends. I tripped and fell flat on my face. It hurt but I did not want to cry. So I picked myself up and with all the bravary that a heart of a 1st grader could possess I picked myself up and walked on down the street.

A few blocks later I came upon Mechelle and two of her friends. As soon as I recognized her I went running into her outstretched arms and let out all the bottled pain. She comforted me, kissed my boo boos, and sent me on my way. I was strong again after being healed by her love.

I marvel as I have looked back on that incident. I have been a 7th grader and know that comforting, caressing, and kissing a child/little siblings was not what a 7th grader would call cool. She did not brush me a way nor try to act the cool 12 year old. It is a tender memory and a tribute to Mechelle and the character she is.

Thank you for everything you have done for me and for being the best big sister ever! I am a far better person because of you.

PS Jim is a great guy too and I LOVE his adjustments! My back always feels so much better when he is around.

Bryce is the 'Post man' doing what he is 'Post' to!!!

The title is inspired by John Bytheway. If you want details ask one of either the two eldest of my children. They would happily fill you in. They LOVE John Bytheway and listen to anything they can get their hands on by him.


However, this "Post Man" refers to Bryce's basketball position that he played so devotedly. Couch Kevin told Bryce to go down to be at the bottom of the key and that is exactly what Bryce would do. Bryce's teammates would get the ball to him and he would turn and shoot.

Do any of you know how hard that shot is? It is outside the key and you have no backboard to bounce the ball into the basket from. In my, not so humble, opinion it is the most difficult basket on the court to make. Bryce was the master of this shot and made many more than he missed.





Not only was he a great offensive player but defense was his game! You had to feel a bit sorry for the boy Bryce guarded because he was on his man like dried egg whites. Those who Bryce would guard were rarely be able to do much offensively and I dare say were relieved when Bryce was sub-ed out of the game.







As my Coach from high school would say, "Offense would win the applause but defense would win the game." Great job Bryce!