Back to the Books!

Ugh! I forgot how intense studying can be! I wasn't ever a bad student in school, it has just been a LONG time since I've had to sit down and study! While he was here, Donny convinced me to do my Rescue course online and then we would spend time next week working on the dives together. I feel VERY lucky to have someone as qualified as Donny to help me expand my diving skills and to learn from and I am SO excited to be able to spend a ton of time in the water next week...

I am heading back to Catalina and I CANT WAIT! I also learned that you can dive at night and catch your own lobsters -- I am strangely excited about the possibility of "catching" my dinner. I also am determined to find an octopus -- but I will not be eating or catching him! They are just too cute to take home :)

On the running front, I am looking forward to a nice, quiet run today... outside. It is a brisk 30 degrees outside, and the perfect weather to hit Fletchers. I love running in the cold, even though I HATE being cold. There is a sense of calm and quietness when there is nobody else on the trail with you. Being that it is Christmas Eve (omg where did the time go), I am sure there will be others out there too. :)

Anyway - for those of you reading this (all 2 of you, lol) -- PLEASE make a comment on my blog application for Bali. It is truly a dream for me, and I need as much help and support as I can possibly get to help the judges pick me.

The link is here and you will need to register (they won't spam you - just send you the password). Follow the link and log in using the password that they sent you. You will then need to follow the link back to my page and make a comment below my name. THANK YOU in advance for taking the time to help send me to Bali!

http://www.bestdivejob.com/blog/?p=48

Catalina Dreamin'

I just returned from another trip to Catalina... where I sadly (sigh) did not dive. I had the chance to do it, but I was so cold by the time we had the time to do it that there was NO way that I was going to enjoy myself... so I ended up at the bar (whoops). BUT I am going back in a couple of weeks and I WILL dive :) I am sad that I didn't dive but there were other reasons that made the weekend great and since I know I will be back in 2 weeks it makes it a little easier. I would feel so lucky to be able to have the opportunity to dive EVERYDAY... (so hint hint, go make a comment on my application for Bali ... www.bestdivejob.com/blog) I can't WAIT to be underwater again - it is so peaceful and whatever stress you have just melts away as soon as you take that first breath. I loved my last experience in Catalina (diving) -- something about the gigantic kelp and the beautiful fish is so different than diving in the Caribbean or off the shore of NC... it's cold, but certainly not as cold as the quarry!

As for running, strangely I am very excited about hitting the pavement outside today. Even though it is 18 degrees outside right now, there is a calm about being in the bitter cold. I am going to head to Fletchers later this afternoon and hopefully the sun will be up. I've trained for 2 marathons in the cold and I prefer to run when it is chilly outside. :)

December Blues....

Well I don't exactly have the December blues... at least not yet. I am actually pretty happy it's December 1st... I've got a good month ahead of me.

Being that I don't exactly live in the diving capital of the world, once the quarry closes, I am s-o-l... so I have been kind of lost during the weekends, so that is why I decided to train for the marathon (as of right now...) and today marks the first "official" day of training. I'm not 100% sure if I will actually RUN today, as I kind of tumbled down the basement stairs yesterday (yes, I have skills) and busted my ankle. I did train this am and we will see if I can hit the treadmill later this afternoon. It's not bad, I think my ego is more bruised than my foot.

In addition, December is going to be a good month because I'm headed out to Catalina again in a week and I will be able to dive out there...and anytime I have the opportunity to be underwater, I'm happy - plus I have been promised an octopus. I don't really know why but I really want to see one...

Regardless of it being cold, in reality, I don't think it could be much colder than it has been at Millbrook. Plus, I will be diving with an incredibly experienced (oh and hot) diver, who I know will help refine my skills. Needless to say, I am EXCITED!

Anyway, happy december! :)

And don't forget to drop a comment on my application for Bali - it would be a dream come true for me! :) www.bestdivejob.com/blog