(no subject)

[figment]

windelina and Monte arrived on Wednesday night, and have been busy here since. We're quite enjoying our guests, their most excellent company, and the excuse to do some touristing of our own. Of course azure_armand and I had to work Thursday and Friday, but we both have Monday off, and I took Tuesday off too. Because I needed it. (I've been working hard. A lot. It's stressful. A day off is necessary.)

Yesterday was the first day that we really got to do something extensive with W & M. We went to Ben's Chili, Ford's Theater, and the International Spy Museum, and finished the day with dinner at Radius Pizza. If you can, just go read windelina's account of the day; if you can't, trust me that the day was good and fun and filling, and the ISM worth going to at least once, despite the fact that you do have to pay to get in. (Hereabouts we get spoiled with the Smithsonians all being free.)

Today, we go to Gettysburg! After a rather late start. But that's okay. The rain has stopped, and it might even get really nice tomorrow. We can hope.

***

On Wednesday before our visitors arrived, I had my first scuba class. I am taking, bizarrely, a 3-credit class in scuba diving. By the end of it, I will be PADI-certified (unless I can't pass). Our open water dive is in a quarry in late November. I expect I will have tales of my fingers turning blue to share (although of course I will be well-outfitted). I'll be spending a few hundred dollars on equipment of various types. I'm really excited to finally be getting certified!

Comments

[malcubed.livejournal.com]

Did you end up being at Gettysburg at the same time as the KKK rally?

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

No. Thank goodness. I think that's tomorrow or some such. Our guide did mention it, with extreme distaste.

[heydanno.livejournal.com]

Oooh, SCUBA!

My roommate in college took a similar class. I went on the "bring a friend" night where I got to try out SCUBA in the swimming pool. It was so much fun! That open water dive sounds sweet--November! Cold!

[eternallion.livejournal.com]

SCUBA, hooray!!! I wouldn't worry too much about the chilly water, I went diving here in March....cold but still do-able.
What equipment are you planning on buying for yourself?

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

The list is:
mask (actually I already have a good one)
heel-strap fins
wet suit boots
snorkel (with keeper)
weight belt (with weight stops)
coated lead weight (approx. 20% of your weight)
PADI open water crew pack (text, dive tables, log book)
2 regulator mouthpieces (and re-useable tie-wraps)
wet suit mitts or gloves
gear bag

They provide us with a 2-piece 1/4" wet suit and hood, BCD, regulator, air, etc.

[eternallion.livejournal.com]

Unless you have to for the class don't buy the weights or weight belt. Most places you go it will be easier to rent those, as well as the fact once (if) you get your own BCD you might find integrated to work better

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The weight belt and weights I can, thankfully, just rent from the dive shop. The other bits, I'm looking at purchasing piecemeal instead of the $380 or whatever it is package from the shop.