May 22, 2005
Advanced and Dry
This weekend I dove 6 times, wore the same swimming trunks both days, and it never got wet. I got my Advanced Open Water cert and Dry Suit cert this weekend. I'm not gonna bore you with the details. I went to Dutch Springs, which is like some sort of water park for divers. It's an old quarry that the filled with water and sunk stuff in it. During my dives, I saw a trolley car, a bus, and some boats. They have these wooden platforms hung 25 ft down where instructors train people in diving skills and stuff.
The dry suit is a weird thing. It's a big rubber suit. Sorta like the hip waders that folks like my dad use when fly fishing. But the dry suit covers everything up to the neck and your wrists. At those places, there are these rubber sleeves that squeeze tight around your flesh to keep water out. I went down to 67ft. It kept the water out. The thing that makes the dry suit so wonderful is that you wear drysuit undergarments in it. They're like a snowsuit. But, since they're dry all the time, you're kept warm. That's how I spent all weekend submerged in 53 degree water.
I did 3 dives on Saturday. I gotta say that I was really spent after that last one. I dropped off my tanks at the air filling station, got a return ticket and left. They give you a bottle of water on the way out. That's nice, because I was really thirsty.
Most guys went home. It's an hour and a half drive. I decided to get a hotel in Allentown and make a vacation of it. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza. There was a prom and a wedding reception going on. I guess the staff were really busy because the service was flaky. Got sent to 3 different rooms because one reason or another. When I finally got to my unoccupied and clean room, I didn't get a key. The tv remote had no batteries. I eventually got a key and a tv remote, but the tv remote didn't work. I was too tired and hungry. I ate at some japanese place, Robata's. And got to my room. Tried to take a shower but it was cold. I watched a movie on hbo. Then went to sleep. But then got up a minute later to take a shower which was hot. And then I went to sleep.
The next day, I got up at 6:30am. Which I guess was nice because folks coming back from New Jersey would be getting up at 5am. I got to have a nice leisurely breakfast that the breakfast buffet. And I got lost in Allentown. And I still got to Dutch Springs by 8am. I picked up my tanks and was in the water by 9. We did our 3 last dives. Got all this paperwork done. I'll be expecting my new cards in a few weeks.
Two real useful tips:
#1. One part hair conditioner and one part water mixed together makes an awesome lubricant for getting wetsuits and gloves on.
#2. I forget what #2 was, I hope I can remember so i can edit this entry and add it.
So, that weekend the place was crowded because DUI, the sellers of dry suits, were showing off their wares and letting people test drive their stuff. But on the road going to Dutch Springs, in that little town called Bethlehem, there's a sign on the road that says:
Couldn't be more true.
May 20, 2005
May 12, 2005
general stuff
So, I saw Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I was so bored. I fell asleep.
I sang karaoke up at the TGIF in Ramsey. Sang Semi-charmed Life and One Last Breath.
Did the Sakura Matsuri in Brooklyn again this year. It was raining. But we got to see Soh Daiko perform. I ate jamaican meat patties in brooklyn. Met Joy from texas, Aimee's friend from school.
Last Sunday, we hiked up a hill on the northern tip of Manhatten. Inwood, I think it was called. Saw tons of birdies. They were making a racket.