The weather
cooperated just long enough this week to complete the window well rebuild
project, although the finish line required a 1/2 day vacation to beat the
rain...better than repairing the basement I suppose... Glad the first
two wells are off the task list, only one more to go...
And a
beautiful weekend it was...a lingering head cold kept me out of the water
this weekend but I tried to 'sweat it out" with a little rework on the
Expedition and replacing two window wells on the east end of the house.
The step bars
on the truck were substantially rusted and more than $500 for an aftermarket
new pair after seven years still seemed unreasonable to me...surprisingly
the bolts cooperated and the bars were removed with ease. The brackets
shine gloss black now thanks to
Rustoleum and the step bars will be sand blasted before being repainted.
The rusty trailer hitch got a fresh coat as well...
The windows
wells have been on the project list for some time...and with all the rain
this summer, the negative slope formed over time was a concern for water
against the basement wall. I'm feeling it this morning but it was
worth it. The hard part is over, digging out the old wells, and I'll
continue the project this week; mount the wells, add stone for drainage,
remove rocky soil, backfill with topsoil and re-grade, plant full shade
grass...pics here.
September 18,
2011
Tropical Storm
Lee traveled right through south-central PA and dumped historical rain.
The flooding was nearly of 1972 Agnes proportions...pics from my local scuba
diving site
here,
the water level is the highest I've seen it since 1998. It was a great
day on the dive site!
August 26,
2011
Here comes
Hurricane Irene...yellow dot is forecast position for Sun., 28-Aug, 1:00am.
York is just 25 miles south of Harrisburg on the map, we'll be wet!
August 12,
2011
New dive store
in York PA, owned by divers for divers...
...start or continue your adventure today!
(Source:
www.ydr.com, 27-March-2011, York Daily
Record)
March 20, 2011
After
two working days at the farm, it was nice to hit the dive site,
Bainbridge Scuba Center,
yes, two weeks in a row, and cruise the bottom for a little more
well-deserved R&R. The sun was bright and warm but the air had a
distinct "it is just now Spring" chill in the air, thus we used the building
to change and don dry suits. Sara A. and Steve S. joined me on this
tour, very much the same as last week, as Steve hadn't seen the boulder in
the Hole or the Trench. The best part at 117ffw was having a witness
to my bait ball sighting from last week, as another bait ball appeared
before us at 117ffw, just west of the boulder. Word is that Frank and
Steve saw them too, last week, so it was not a narc after all, very cool new
phenomena at BSC. Finally, turns out that Steve didn't realize the
blue box
van, put down in July 2008, is hanging so far over the edge, and
actually pretty cool to see on the ascent from the pump house.
We finished
with a leisurely safety swim around the Bowl at 23ffw, then up over the road
and into the Lagoon for a shallow cruise back to the Beach for an easy exit
and gentle walk back to the gear tables. There were a few other people
at Lower and Upper A but still plenty of elbow room this time of the Spring
dive season. Of course
McCleary's Public
House in Marietta was our true closure on another day of aaaahhhhhhhh in
the water. Be well, have a good week!
Beneath The Sea Dive
Show is this weekend in Secaucus NJ. A candy-land and everything
scuba for divers of all types...enjoy!
March 13, 2011
And
a very nice day on the dive site it was...a short visit to BSC with all of
it's surface water exposed, the ice now totally gone for another year.
I got a late start today and spent extra time catching up with Susie and
Steve while my steel 120 climbed to 3450psi, thus I arrived solo at Upper A.
The day was gray and overcast but what a view from above, the natural
surroundings of Bainbridge
Scuba Center exuding hints of a Spring season sure to come. This
was a great dive, solo, after a brief surface visit with Jeff, George and
Scott on their way out. The steep path is always my favorite entry
point, gently easing my way into the depths past the Ford and the Spool.
The stairs and deep deep boat were wide open, as announced, and the bottom
of the Hole at 118ffw was pleasing to the eye.
I had a
"first" at this point, due East of the deep deep boat, not quite to the big
boulder, watching two bait balls swim by me at 118ffw, both about 5'
diameter comprised of ~3" fish, and separated by about two minutes.
Very very cool, and not a narc, I think... I turned south over the
ridge, over the RR tracks and up to the 90' plateau, then into the trench
back to the pump house for my ascent to 50' and the box van. The
cruise around the Bowl burning off deco was leisurely and relaxing.
Did I mention the vis?
The
usual après scuba stop was bustling with activity and always features plenty
of choices to whet that post-scuba thirst, and hunger...I found Jeff, George
and Scott already at the bar. Stop by
McCleary's Pub in
Marietta when you have time - you'll be glad you did.
Next dive =
Sunday, March 20, 2011, 9:00am
March 2, 2011
A neighbor of
mine is super nice guy, moving back to "the street" after a brief sojourn to
a new (old) home just over a mile away, in his former hood. He and
wife made the move for their own reasons, and then moved back to the
original house that didn't sell in the down market after the bubble burst.
We're
glad to have Ed and Jacquie back on "the street" and I look forward to
getting back on the bike with Ed this summer, but that's not the point.
Ed is an inspiration, always with a positive word and kind, friendly
smile...and he's like the Energizer Bunny with all the jogging and biking
and kayaking...
I wanted to
share this Community Columnist piece written by Ed as 2010 came to a close.
He is ever insightful and finds just the right words to not only convey his
message, but to give pause, and cause others to really think. ...in my
ongoing world of hustle and bustle, founded in an ever-increasing workload
and an exploding global solar business, I've redefined my "peace and quiet"
for 2011...how do you define yours? Click
here to read Ed's piece...
February 16,
2011
A Valentine's
Day card from my loving wife...I think she's trying to tell me to go Ice
Diving!
November 15,
2010
Work
has been pretty busy with international East and West travel becoming status
quo...
I
finally got back in the water at BSC yesterday, logging 1:14 bottom time
with a :21 deco obligation. My 100% oxygen diminished that commitment
to just :09 at the gas switch at 20ffw. The site was busy and flooded with
bright, warm sunshine. It was good to see some friendly faces from the
old days...
This bottom tour was more or less typical with Tom P.,
Gerhard M., and Dave K. in tow... We dropped in at the Road, passed
the Spool and Stairs to the blackness at the deep deep Boat. A slow
swimming ascent across the Hole landed us at the Tanker. The Barn was
next and the vis was terrific. A SW heading brought us back to the
trees, boulder and blast shack at the south wall. We hopped just north
into the Trench before turning WSW to the Pump House. Here our ascent
commenced to the blue Box Van and then up to 20ffw for our deco swim around the
west wall of the Bowl. We ended up going over the Road and finishing
at the Beach in the Lagoon. What a great dive and some much needed
nitrogen loading.
McCleary's Pub has
a new, enclosed facade and the patio was open for business for off-gassing,
where Vern finally arrived to join the fun. Good stuff!
Gerhard shot a little video with his helmet cam, 6:39 duration:
Dive Profile:
November 6,
2010
My second
oyster trip of 2010 did not disappoint but the catching was tough duty,
hailing from Capt. Troy's L&L Liquors charter. The usual 2.5hrs in the
water rendered our limit of one bushel per diver for Tibz, jb, Adam J., and
Gerhard. Capt Gerry and Tina were hunting with us as well and they
took a bushel home too. It was dry suit diving as usual this time of
year and the water was calm and 57F. The sun warmed our faces after
surfacing and the usual good time was had by all. This was my second
trip to Parsons Island this year and we hope the beds catch up for 2011.
Pics:
Adam J. shadowed by Capt Troy in the warm place on the boat...and fresh
shucked oysters on the grill bathed in buerre blanc sauce...
October 3,
2010
Fall is in the
air, spent the day in the yard and loving the fresh air and sunshine.
The only part I dislike is my neighbors' leaves in my yard = more work for
us! Yesterday was my first oyster catch of the season. I had
five of the A-Team, we had one man down with the flu at the last minute.
The Chesapeake Bay was beautiful, sunny, calm and nice vis up to 12' or so. Depth
was limited to the usual 12' and the catching was easy. We covered a
lot of ground to make our limit but the oysters were plentiful, large and
very clean; and as of last night's shindig, very tasty!
August 26,
2010
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
Rustoleum and the step bars will be sand blasted before being repainted.
The rusty trailer hitch got a fresh coat as well...
After
two working days at the farm, it was nice to hit the dive site,
And
a very nice day on the dive site it was...a short visit to BSC with all of
it's surface water exposed, the ice now totally gone for another year.
I got a late start today and spent extra time catching up with Susie and
Steve while my steel 120 climbed to 3450psi, thus I arrived solo at Upper A.
The day was gray and overcast but what a view from above, the natural
surroundings of 
The
usual après scuba stop was bustling with activity and always features plenty
of choices to whet that post-scuba thirst, and hunger...I found Jeff, George
and Scott already at the bar. Stop by
We're
glad to have Ed and Jacquie back on "the street" and I look forward to
getting back on the bike with Ed this summer, but that's not the point.
Ed is an inspiration, always with a positive word and kind, friendly
smile...and he's like the Energizer Bunny with all the jogging and biking
and kayaking...
Work
has been pretty busy with international East and West travel becoming status
quo... 
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.
