And so it has
been several months of silence...my work role has exploded and I'm covered
up. Changes are in the air (and water) though and I'll update again
soon. In the meantime, watch this six minute video of Lake Tahoe
diving, shared by Sara Austin, something she uncovered on the web...enjoy...
My preferred
North Carolina operator and dive store:
March 2, 2010
This is worth
your time...
February 28,
2010
I
wrapped up a
PADI Ice Diver Specialty class yesterday; Tibz & Jeff are now certified
to join me under the ice when
Bainbridge Scuba Center
freezes...thanks to Chris for his DM assistance...new news: the dry gloves I
finally adopted rock! Tibz was the guinea pig...the first to add the
locking ring system to his suit and gloves...I've resisted the technology
for many years...tolerating/suffering with cold, wet hands all this
time...we've (Tibz, Jeff and I) officially adopted the
SiTech Glove Lock QCP locking ring system with Atlas 495 gloves and
acrylic knit liners - wow, this system is easy to install, don & doff and
dry hands are a beautiful thing...! Numerous online retailers offer
this system and we were satisfied
Dive Right In Scuba. Be sure to check your LDS just in case they
are a dealer...it is always good to support your local brick-n-mortar.
Be well, dive safely and enjoy warm, dry hands! See pics
here.
January 4,
2010
No
time like the present to pen a quick note to kick off 2010...all the best in
2010! My time here on the home page is dropping off as I stay current
on my FB account. The scuba content
remains current though and I'm starting a new adventure in basic tech diving
with TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures training this month.
The idea is to use 100% oxygen to clean up after deep, repetitive dives to
improve safety margins; who could argue with that? I am by no means
leaving the recreational scuba world and will continue
teaching PADI courses and specialties.
We're watching Bainbridge
Scuba Center closely to seize the moment for an Ice Diver class this
winter. New Years Day diving (that's Adam Johnson & me above) pulled a
good crowd at BSC to start the year right. We were out again yesterday
in 18F temps with 20mph wind - can you say frozen gear...but this is the
time of year for us...only five of us at the site and so much elbow room.
The building is heated and the vis is really nice but don't be a stranger,
everyone is welcome! Work resumes this morning after closing out a
terrific 2009; 8 months on the job, about $13MM in bookings, I'm loving it.
2010 will be an even busier year for me with three key accounts and a large
North American market to continue developing,
Komax Solar was a
great place to land after 12 months of searching for that next "right
opportunity" for me; I found it! Be well my friends and stay in touch!
November 8,
2009
The
short version is...it has been hectic! Loving the new job and travel,
and landed my first big order, a USA-based company with this project headed
for Malaysia. $6.8million reasons to celebrate, and I'm told the
largest single order in company history...a good start in my first six
months with Komax Solar. In other good news, we had another great day
on the Chesapeake Bay and caught our limit of fresh oysters. The
visibility was not nearly as good as last month's trip but we had a blast.
Bennett Point
Lighthouse south of Kent Island is always a good landmark to
assure us of good oysters beds. See my
Scuba Adventures page for pics
from both trips.
October 4, 2009
Awesome day on the Chesapeake
Bay for our first oyster catch of the season. Pic page coming soon
here...in the meantime, see this "public version" of the album on my
Facebook page
here.
September 18,
2009
Highlights
from the latest scuba adventure back to NC - Morehead City for wrecks &
sharks. More details to come when I have a little time to complete the
story. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures...click...
September 2,
2009
Komax Solar
Inc. Grand Opening in Springettsbury Township - York, PA
So it
has been a bit since I posted here...May 4 was the first day of the new job,
en route to China, and the whirlwind has not settled since...scuba is
suffering a terrible blow but I'm encouraged and inspired by my newly
declared independent instructor status...I had a good two year run with York
Divers but it is time to manage my own path and schedule...I wish
York Divers well under its new ownership
and will continue to teach for them on an as-needed and mutually beneficial
basis.
I led a
stellar scuba trip for 13 divers to NC in June, dare I say the best water
conditions I've ever had.
Olympus Diving is a
first-class operator and a must see when you visit Morehead City for scuba
diving charters. My dive report is taking shape slowly
here
and many more pics will be posted. I taught a Rescue class recently at
BSC, a Wreck Diver specialty in NC and have an AOW class forthcoming at BSC,
August 22-23; two students so far signed up and there is room for you,
join us. A
couple of the guys in "the gang" are going doubles and looking to Adv Nitrox
and Deco training...I might have to give this serious thought...but not
until the new job settles and business is flowing.
Komax Systems
York just last week moved into its new location in East York, off East
Market St. on Innovation Drive, and is launching a new corporate image.
Now known as Komax Solar Inc., we are fully committed to the photovoltaic
crystalline and thin film solar manufacturing sector, manufacturing and
selling advanced, automated interconnection solutions for a promising green
and renewable energy sector. This specialized and often customized
machinery makes the flow of electricity possible as solar module and thin
film panel producers harness the sun's electrical potential. I'm the
new guy on the block with sales responsibility in the North American market,
bringing the face and name of Komax Solar directly to the customer. I
do not lack for things to do in my newly created position, and I love it!
I just
returned from San Francisco and the
Intersolar N.A. trade show, in concert with
SEMICON West. Not only was it a terrific business development
opportunity but I made the time at the end of the show to
reconnect
with my Aunt Maggie, a scant 10 years since I've seen her. We had two
nights and one and a half days together and really enjoyed our time.
Gavin was home from
Amherst College and Annie has the summer to pass before entering her
last year of high school. Allan is thrilled to be starting his own
private venture
www.conservationpathways.net
after 25 years with the same employer. Maggie and I visited the famed
Point Reyes
National Seashore and Lighthouse. More pics on my
Photos page.
May 28, 2009
Well the first
month concludes tomorrow and a good month it has been! I'm very
excited to be part of the Komax team and look forward to doing my part in
the field with customers in the solar manufacturing sector. There is
so much potential in the solar industry, more than I was aware of before
going to work for Komax.
I must say that diving has suffered a bit since the daily schedule changed.
I miss the quiet time under water but I'll get back at it soon and I look
forward to the first NC dive trip in June. I have 14 divers going to
the Graveyard of the Atlantic to dive with Olympus Diving in Morehead City.
The August trip is filling slowly and there is plenty of room if you want to
join us.
April 28, 2009
The euphoria
is overwhelming and surreal, as my wife put it...it has been a long year of
unemployment and a steady search for that next right job and career
opportunity! I'm certain I found just the right fit!
I accepted a position with Komax Systems York yesterday, as Sales Engineer -
North America. I am the first outside sales engineer in their
expansion according the strategic business plan and forward-looking
organization chart. This Photovoltaic Solar Business Unit experienced
100% growth in 2008 vs 2007 and no doubt will continue to grow in our green
and renewable energy economy. I'm very excited to be on the ground
floor of this outside sales organization!
Its always
nice to get in a dive on Sunday morning. George, Jim and I had the
dive site to ourselves for a cool morning dip. The bottom is still 39F
but the Lagoon warmed to 44F, a nice warm-up after 40+ minutes at depth.
The vis is excellent down to 38' then things change - 'tis the season...52
minutes run time to 89ffw max depth.
We were out of there by noon and I made it home in good time to disassemble
the auxiliary ac/heating unit in the back of the Expedition - turns out the
air blend door actuator is bad, causing a repeated thumping noise, a $25
part that a local Ford dealer wanted $350 to fix.
I had to
scramble to toss everything back into the truck and run through the house to
close windows as a hail storm with strong rain came up out of nowhere!
Here's a
brief video of the intense hail that pounded the back door...
March 24, 2009
I just
finished overseeing the installation of 11 replacement windows at my
mother-in-laws house; Renewal by Andersen. These are custom made of
course to fit the current openings and are superior quality compared to
vinyl. Despite the relative high cost, I was exceptionally impressed
by the quality of product, installation, finish work and cleanup.
Renewal by Andersen for our area is in Mechanicsburg, ask for Shea Hartman,
sales rep, 866-877-2200 x254. I recommend requesting the installation
crew of Jim Bates. You can learn more about this product at
www.renewalbyandersen.com.
March 15, 2009
Well it sure seems like Spring is making a grand entrance...I see many of
our neighbors raking their lawns to help give the grass a healthy start; I
guess I better get outside and keep up with the Jones...
I have moderate plans for the yard this year...a good dethatching, possible
aerating and overseeding. A post light is planned at the bottom of the
driveway to improve driveway management and perimeter safety. Since
I'm running a new line, I might just branch off for some landscape
lighting.... The patio in the back yard is a must, the flagstone pile
just isn't getting any smaller by itself.
I'm anxious to get the bicycles out and chatted last night with my friend Ed
about our weekly riding schedule slated to begin in April.
Here's a neat shot of a
Barred Owl that we spied a few weeks back at 4:00pm just behind the
house overlooking our back yard...we think little Sophi might have been on
his dinner menu.
As the saying
goes, time flies by...First Wednesday continues at
McCleary's Pub through
May and diving continues at a regular pace. Four of us enjoyed peace
and quiet on the dive site Sunday, January 4th, a nice change from the very
busy day on New Years (although it was nice to see so many people starting
the new year with a dive!).
My attention (re)turns
to the important task of job hunting, hopeful for better results than 2008
delivered.
December 2, 2008
My buddy Ian is an avid deer
hunter, both bow and rifle...and gets jacked up with each passing season, as
much as I get gassed about scuba diving! Last year he bagged an
antlerless at Joan's farm in Seven Valleys. Thanks to Greer's Butcher
in Marietta, the fruits of that harvest were delicious! This year his
son Dylan bagged his first deer, a sweet 10-pt buck! Congrats Dylan!
read more here
Descending
I
wrapped up a
No
time like the present to pen a quick note to kick off 2010...all the best in
2010! My time here on the home page is dropping off as I stay current
on my FB account. The 
The
short version is...it has been hectic! Loving the new job and travel,
and landed my first big order, a USA-based company with this project headed
for Malaysia. $6.8million reasons to celebrate, and I'm told the
largest single order in company history...a good start in my first six
months with 
I led a
stellar scuba trip for 13 divers to NC in June, dare I say the best water
conditions I've ever had.
