So my son is working on a school project that (of course) involves our last Dive Trip.... stay tuned for the final website - but for now I have been collecting the pics of the trip for him to use in his website and presentation. So I created a little slideshow and thought I would share ..... It was fun to take them and is cool to watch - there is music to give you that beach ... << MORE >>

I know, I did promise to write more often ... and I do think about it .... but .... life these days has been full of planning, working, and traveling.....

Early summer is busy for those of us with Kids - you know ... end of the year school projects, recalcitrant [read - tired, non-motivated, ready-for-summer] kids, new work projects, vacation planning (yes we have a fab 2 week holiday planned!) ....
... << MORE >>

Summer! 

My favorite time of the year!

 But then you know that.... anywhere it is warm and sunny .... that's where I'm happiest!



I've been so busy with the day job and the Mom stuff that I haven't been keeping up with the photos and the travel stories.....

So today, for Mom's Day, I decided to do what I love - and that's look thru the rest of the photos from our Spring Break Adventure to Cayman, and start planning the next trip!

I love catching up with the pics - it brings back all those great memories of dives, and friends, and new places we visited.  Yes, even in Cayman there are a few spots I haven't been yet!



This time we went to the East End, and ate at Tukka!  Great food - the Alligator Kangaroo Outback Burger (or something similar ) was Fantastic according to my son - and I loved the jerk chicken.  But what was even better was the atmosphere of the restaurant and the view.  Wow! just awesome!


We got to catch up with our friends and tell dive stories about giant moray eels and eagle rays and Rolling Stone's Flamingo tongues .... see another side of the Island ... and just relax before coming back home.


Enjoy a few of the pics I found, and I'll be back soon to rant and rave about .... well something fun!

Safe Travels.

Aqua  xoxo

For those of us that are SCUBA divers - the term "buddy" means a lot of things.  Primarily - it is the person that you are diving with on a particular dive.  This could be your partner, a family member, a friend, or a fellow diver you meet on the Dive Boat or in the dive group.  My favorite dive buddy is my son.

Well, lionfishes that is ....


Yes - we are back from our Lion Fishing Expedition.  I must say we had a Fabulous time!

Yes, again we sought out the comforts of Cobalt Coast and DiveTech in Grand Cayman.  There is nothing better than being greeted as old friends, having "our" suite ready and waiting, and getting the best dive masters ever to show us the North Wall! 

AND, we couldn't have asked for a better week ... really... not a wave to be seen... idyllic is the adjective that comes to mind .... sigh ....

Do you have Spring Traditions?

Do you still go on a Spring Break Trip?  Visit Family for Easter Holiday?  Get busy with Spring Cleaning?  Find your Zen in garden with the Crocus, Red Buds and Tulips?

 

Don't get me wrong - It's not about tucking away the past year and all the mementos into a storage box never to be seen again! (You know me I love to revisit the adventures,  re-tell the stories, revel in the memories.  But I like to be positive as we move into a new year - to day dream about things to come as well as cherish the memories of the past year's adventures. 

So rather than resolutions that are forgotten in a fortnight, and regrets about plans that went awry   - let's start a new tradition...

Let's Make a list of the Top Experiences from Last Year we want to make sure we remember, and then list the Top Things we are anticipating for The New Year!  Here we go .....

Aqua's Pics - Top Memories from 2011

• The perfect dive in Key Largo:  I know you've heard all about it, but really .... in one dive, in 40 feet of water, in addition to the beautiful reefs of John Pennycamp Preserve, in seemingly unlimited viz, we saw: Reef Shark, Nurse Sharks, Goliath Groupers, Rays, Turtle, Barracuda, Parrot Fish, Angel Fish, Pipefish, too many Christmas Tree worms to count, and all the other tropical reef fish and critters you would expect.  It was a great day for diving, for pictures, and one we'll surely remember for years.

     

• Zen Diving in Cayman:  My son and I were off for a shore dive and a we met up with a diver that needed a buddy.  She lives and works in Cayman and said she'd had a bad day and was in need of a Zen Dive.  A great lesson for us - while we love to dive and see all the new stuff -  it was a great reminder of just how peaceful and refreshing an afternoon dive can be!  Nothing better to take your mind off the troubles of the day - and refocus on nature and all it's wonders

• 13.1:I finished my first ever Half-Marathon!  Despite the mishaps (the bus didn't come to pick us up at the parking lot until the race had already started!), the chill in the air, and a daunting course, I was able to take these old bones from start to finish - and managed to pass a few folks in the process!  A great feeling - and I may just have to try it again this year!

• Turtle Whisperer: That's the nickname a fellow diver gave me on my last dive in Cayman over Thanksgiving!  As I was swimming up and over a reef - I came face-to-face with a small Hawksbill Turtle.  Of course I had to snap a few pics - and as I did so he turned to leave.  Then, he changed his mind and came back to talk to me - up close and personal - and then swam around me in a big circle - checking me out!  What an amazing experience - they are truly beautiful creatures!

• And so many others: Sunsets; Catching up with friends (in Cayman, Chicago, North Carolina, Florida....);  Macabuca and Bucanero in Cayman, Toronto in July; Fishing at the coast; Family dinners,  .... it could go on forever!

How about you - what are your favorite memories or experiences from 2011?  Just write them down- on a slip of paper, in your blog, on a sticky note - it's a great feeling!Now what about next year - what do you have planned?  Are you taking a course, planning a vacation, making changes at work or at home?  Let's see what gets us energized!  My list .....

Aqua's Pics - Anticipating 2012

• Lionfishing in Cayman: My son is doing a school project on Lionfish in the Caribbean.  He will be learning more about how big the problem is, what is being done about it, watching some hunting, and testing out some recipes - and I get to tag along and take photos and learn too!

 

• Driver's Ed: My son becoming a driver.  Remember - this is about the power of positive thinking - this will be a good, fun, exciting adventure!
• Lifelong Learning:  I am taking various classes to learn new skills.  I have some photography courses lined up (need to learn more about the new cameras and how to use my new telephoto lens!), and a few other classes that might help me find fun jobs when I give up corporate life and retire to the beach life.
• Planning New Adventures:  We haven't planned all our adventures yet - we are thinking about visiting family in Utah, perhaps a trip over the big pond to see England and our friends there, and maybe another whale shark adventure in Mexico.  Wherever we end up - it will be fun to plan, and a great experience to remember!

 I'll keep you updated on my list ... now get going and make one of your own and start getting excited about 2012!! 

Safe Travels,

xx Aqua

To see more photos visit Aqua's PicsTo buy prints, digital downloads and more visit Aqua's Photo Shop  

I'm not sure about you - but growing up we were always told to start a journal at the beginning of each school year. I know my sister kept a diary for a while, but I never really understood why this was so important. I remember thinking that I was no Anne Frank or Leonardo Da Vinci - My diary or journals were not going to be published and would not likely change people's lives.Well, ... << MORE >>

Wow, here it is, the end of July already!  Time has flown by this summer!I love summer time.  It is my time to rest, relax, catch up with friends, and plan for the rest of the year!I'm not sure if  it's the slower pace that takes hold of the southern culture, or  the fact that the days stretch into long sultry evenings made for walks along the shoreline, or the hypnotic sounds of the ocean lazily lapping along the shores .... but it is definitely my favorite time of the year! 

Maybe it's because I can take even more dive trips 


I've had a really busy summer, traveling quite a bit - Florida, Chicago (Yay Windy City!), Beach, Toronto (what a nice refreshing business trip) - Chicago (yes Again!), Boston (I haven't been in 20 years) ... whew what a whirlwind!!!!I decided mid-way through all the meetings, travel, and presentations that I needed to set aside some time to really relax and rejuvenate ...I found myself dreaming of sunsets and sailboats ....

and doodling pictures of fish and rays during meetings ....and even sneaking off to edit videos of sharks from the last dive trip ... 


 
so ... I planned a couple more dive trips ... and can't wait to slip beneath the waves and drift along the current checking out the eels, groupers, corals, sponges...hopefully I will be able to start the fall season refreshed, relaxed, and more creative than ever.

 How about you - is summer a busy time, or relaxing?  what is the best thing about summer to you??!!