On the surface, the whole thing seems quite silly, suicidal in fact. How else to describe the act of putting on a weight belt and jumping, off a perfectly good boat, into the ocean? It wasn't a death wish that brought me to the islands around Sipadan but rather what is considered to be some of the best diving in the world. When I jumped off the ship this morning I was wearing more than a weight belt -- I had a full complement of rented scuba gear to protect me from the elements.

As my group began our descent I floundered a bit as I haven't been diving since I did my open water certification over a year ago. Eventually it came back to me and I began to make my way down to where the group was congregating but then I hit 3-4M and pain filled my ears. Excruciating pain, pain that wouldn't go away as I tried a variety of methods to equalize my ears. I ascended a bit, relieving the pain, and tried to go back again but the same thing happened. I could see the group staring up at me, I could see the DM pointing at me as I motioned with my hands to my ear. He pinched his nose to encourage me to equalize my ears. Thanks.

Finally he motioned for me to swim with the direction of the group which I did. Over the next 30 minutes or so I tried going down but never got beyond 4M. At one point I had my left partly cleared but the right wouldn't clear at all. I gave up and just continued moving along, a few feet below the surface. At one point some fish swam by me and as I followed them I lost the trail of bubbles from my "diving" group. Eventually I found them again and re-boarded the ship, trying not to look as disappointed as I felt.

For the next two dives of the trip I just snorkeled around while everyone else dove. Luckily the reef in this area is pretty amazing and I got to see some great coral as well as some really cool looking fish but it wasn't the same as diving. I felt so let down when everyone got back on the boat and started talking about how awesome the dive was and recalling all of the highlights (moray eels!) which I could only smile at. It reminded me of when I was a kid and, during holiday gatherings, would have to sit at the "kids" table instead of the adult table.

During each of my snorkel sessions I tried free diving down but the pain was even worse this time and I couldn't get more than a few kick strokes below the surface. So disappointing. The worst part now is that I prepaid for 3 days worth of diving (9 dives) and will now end up snorkeling for all of them. There are worse things, yes. But that's a lot of expensive snorkeling that I hope turns out to be worthwhile. Plus I get to listen to everyone else talking about their dives.

This is all very upsetting.

Oh, I also got a kicking bright red sunburn down the back of my legs. yum.

This might've been posted before, but I especially like the first clip haha.
I really can't believe that so many "journalists" had to ask them 'which one are you?' That's gotta be rule number on the list of what NOT to do when interviewing. But oh well, John makes things funny.

In honor of Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary, and this weeks bentochallenge.



DH wanted Cookie Monster for his bento.
Left tier has a Cookie Monster made from Jasmine Rice dyed blue with Nori for his mouth and eyes, on top of a leaf of Romaine Lettuce. Below Cookie Monster is some left over Mongolian beef.
Right tier has 3 chocolate chip cookies with the letter "C" drawn on with Buttercream (C is for cookie, after all,) Blue cheese dressing in yellow silicon mold, baby carrots and Celery.



I chose Big Bird for mine.

Left tier has Big Bird made from Jasmine rice dyed yellow, with a cheese beak and eyes colored with food markers. He sits atop a Romaine Lettuce and Mongolian Beef nest.
Right tier has 2 chocolate chip cookies, seedless red grapes, and sliced starfruit.

Number 143 has nothing to do with Sesame Street, it's a special request from one of the local policemen. I tried making his patch, but my food markers fail me once again, even after buying a new brand. But if it saves me from getting pulled over, it served its purpose, right? erm.



Turkey, Provolone cheese and lettuce with Honey Mustard sandwich, surrounded by chocolate chip cookies, seedless red grapes, Skittles, and some Tostitos.

xposted to bentochallenge

Dear Eric,
This distance is tearing us apart. I know I just got to see you last week, and I am grateful, but all the other days where I have to sit and wait in agony is just eating a hole inside of me. I found it cliche' to say that I sit and cry over you, but that's exactly what I did.
I dream about you everynight, and I constantly wonder if you're thinking about me at the same time that I'm thinking about you. I may be a bit much, but I all of this comes from the love that I hold for you in my heart. I think back to all the great times we've had together and I go over the pictures in my head that I mentally took of you when we were together. Your smile is the brightest of anything I've ever seen. You shine brighter than the sun. You're the most amazing thing I've ever felt in my life and I want to be with you forever.
I love you and I miss you,
Caroline.

i posted before but did SOMETHING wrong cause the pictures didn't show up! =) maybe i'm just a space case...that would make sense. i've been a lurker for quite some time now, but haven't posted. i thought i'd post these pictures i scanned, as i haven't seen them posted here before and he's smokin' hot so everyone deserves to gander at them! =)

( enjoy )

I'm stubbornly clinging to the idea that summer isn't all gone - although all I need is to look out of the windowat the grey, wet, windy, YUCKY weather... So I'm having my little bit of summer here in the bento instead...

Bento # 656 Spaghetti and spicy sauce, covered with a flower made of ½ egg, green pepper and carrots. Corn Cob. more green pepper, grapes on a skewer. Shaslik from a can.

I believe it was on this blog that someone posted a link to the "History of Bento" documentary hosted on YouTube. Wonderful little film. One thing about the documentary was that when it interviewed people about their bento boxes, I noticed the meals were a lot simpler than what I imagined them to be. One guy in particular (a fisherman whose floating, round box was being showcased) was eating nothing but rice with a few strands of brown seaweed sprinkled on top.

Outside of the city (whose boxes seem to be the more typical ones showcased...especially those made for children or theme-based) are the bentos far more simpler and with less ingredients?

I found this bouncing around the web and thought I'd share. It perfectly describes everything I hate about game stop.

( The Guide Awaits )

It's starting to get cold around here now, I don't think I'll feel my toes again til march, so the pasta with tomato and pepper sauce is in a separate box to be microwaved come lunchtime.  The other box has a mini pork pie, the last madeleines, a laughing cow cheese triangle, some cherry tomatoes and some sesame biscuit things.