Today is our Anniversary for me it’s easy to remember as it’s the same timeframe I finally burnt out and was diagnosed with the major mood disorder. So being the romantic i got her take out from Pizza Hut and even spurge for stuff crust. Just because it pretty shitty weather wise out side for those that live here in Kingston.
So like always in the winter i started my day in the gym and Sean finally crawled out of his hole to join me in the Hot tub to fill me in on his doings. He’s about to go through detox as a med change was ordered, I am pretty happy that I haven’t had that pleasure in a year so I will need to keep an eye out for him.
Yesterday i got my sleeve tattoo finished sort of and am already thinking on what to do next, I still want a HD tattoo and something on my hand as well. So I have to look around and figure out what I want and I got nothing but time in the winter anyway.
So now that we are heading into Feb and I have dropped another pants size 34 now I am hoping to get out and get some pictures if it starts warming up. I know the goats are due to be born soon and Polly, Sean, Cynthia and David are looking forward to seeing them.
So this year is slow to start as most years for anything but working out, I am not a fan of cold weather anymore and with the depression it’s even worse. They say that there is more clear skies in the winter then any other season but I don’t think this rings true I am sure there’s only been 4 blue skies days this month so far.
On the camera front I got a shot of a coyote finally but only the back end as the minute I lined up the shot he turned but this was the first time I saw one in a long time and the first time in Kingston. I also have to stitch my latest pano of the windmills being erected on Wolfe Island. Also I am starting to learn the G10 pretty good as well not as crisp as my D300 but handy for the pocket.
I have finally for the first time in many years been able to complete a 50 km workout with very little pain and problems so my knees are holding out on the machines so far this winter. Next week the sit-ups are going to be re-added to the workout as well.
I think we will be diving a new shore dive from Wolfe Island as well this coming season, I am working on getting the location of a burnt coal steamer in 38 feet of water in the Barrett Bay area of Marysville.
I am fighting with the insurance company over the payout of my motorcycle they think that a 8 thousand dollar deductiable is a good way to go to keep them happy, I turned it over to the broker and am hoping for a resolution soon so I can get the new bike up and going the way I want it.
So the dealer announced to me that it’s most likely gonna be a write off and the adjuster was in on Friday pricing out new bikes. So this is what they are suggesting for me at the moment. I may do it and get it painted.
Today on the way to the gym for my weekend bust a ass work out 40 kms both Sat and Sun I heard David Bowie singing I can’t explain by the Who. It;s been a long time since I heard anything from that album the biggest flop that Bowie did and that includes the 80′s new wave attempt as well. That isn’t even the worse sound on the Album Pin Ups I think the butchering of a Pink Floyd Tune was enough to make any Rock and Roll lover spew green shit all over the place.
Here’s one for the funny files the Somali pirates that hijacked a Ship in November were paid 3 million dollars instead of the 25 million they asked for and in their hasty retreat they got sideswiped by a wave and 5 of them drown. Here’s the funny thing the families of the Pirates are blaming the international community for having patrol ships in the region.
So the good news is that my bike finally made it home today from California and the bad news is that it looks like a right off due to the frame is bent. So looks like new bike shopping yet again. The weather here in Kingston sux today mixed bag of winter hit us snow, ice pellets, freezing rain and rain all through the last 24 hours. So not a lot of driving for me except to priority places(Tattoo Pallor, Bike Shop and the gym).
So my workout buddies Sean and Tim went dress shopping instead of working out but today I hit a new high since the accident 36 KMs and of course the hot tub was at the right temperature after which I headed to see Berle at Don’t Tell Momma’s to get another 3 hours done on my sleeve.
Tim came to see some work and afterwards at the Harley dealer they asked why a new tat at this time of my life, I finally had the time to dedicate to get the tat I always wanted a sleeve of some sort and now I am doing. Like the bike I purchase this summer the bike of my dreams something that one only gets once in a while and this was my chance.
I hope that it will be finished by the end of the month and back to normality, working out and diving.
Sean and I have been hitting the gym on a regular basis and today I hit the 32km mark not the 40 km’s I was doing before the dive season started but getting there. Today was a little different as Both Polly and my buddy Tim showed up today as well.
Today’s picture is from the fort of the Wolfe Islander III passing by with 21 windmills in the background. The tugs started crossing today as well so I think there will be more coming soon as well. Another good thing that my computer parts came in today and like always Altair fixed it in a regular fashion great customer service at that place best computer service in town. Not a large selection but the service is well worth the wait.
Sean has started getting it together and has returned to school which is pretty cool anyone that finally decides to get a highschool diploma after 20 years deserves some attention, with any luck the class will be full of snuggies for eye candy.
Day 5 of nothing to report on the drive by scene as well very very very quiet down there.
So I finally did something that I have been meaning to do for years and that was to cover up a tattoo I got in the early 80′s by an old army buddy that was starting out. For those that haven’t been inked in years the process hasn’t changed a bit unfortunately and they are not licked on by kittens. 
Ivan is now a successful tattooist in Petawawa now and his work is very excellent but I have no reason to run to Petawawa to get a tattoo fixed as I wanted to sleeve or have a scene anyway.
Before embarking on my new inked adventure I stopped at the KGH wreck site where members of the Kingston and Belleville diving community were gathering for a New Years Dive. It was chilly but they all were in good spirits and raring to go. Mike Hill a local PADI instructor was conducting his 1000ths dive which in any sport professional or amateur is a great feat. To put in context for those that don’t dive that is about 40 days underwater for a competent diver. Just to rub Mike I dished it as an thing I had done long ago and it was nothing .
Also in town my friend Joan from BC who was lunching with her husband, Child and Sean at the Raddison so I stopped in and gave my blessings as well.
So back to the parlor and away we go when getting someone new to do ink on you. You go through a process checking each other out and sizing what each of you are capable of. My part is easy all I have to do is relax and let the boy do his stuff. He has to draw the scene and hope that I like it etc . For what it is worth it was a good job and having someone capable of doing this freehand was an added bonus.
If your looking for some work and don’t need the attitude of an artist which some get after years of work stop by Don’t Tell Momma next to the beer store on princess street. Young but highly capable artists there.
I also took a few moments out this am to take a few shots around town when I left I started to wobble so I realized that my morning meds were sitting on the night table so back to the house and an hour later life was good. So enough of the vacation back to the gym tomorrow and back to life as I know it now.
The gang at the boat launch on west street hanging around looking for people to feed them.
So the year went on like last, but finally a great amount of drug changes and tweaking XMas was bearable and not even good ole fashioned fight on and off the net. So I have to say it was a good one.
So here’s the hightlights of the year according to me
- I lost alot of weight and the ongoing battle of the bulge continues into this year as I have still a lot to go, It was very weird to go from a 3xl to a med up to Large and bordering on a med again and still have a beer belly but it’s work and lots of it.
- I got back into technical diving and completed the GUE level one course then immediately dove the Jodery and Picton wrecks on Helium. My good friend Chris who is vacationing in Africa kept me going so this year I have to concentrate and help him finish.
- I bought the motorcycle of my dreams and rode out to California with my best friend Dan all went well till I got ran off the road by a kid in a sports car.
- I met a certified member of the nazi party in Illinois, a christian biker in Kansas during a hurricane, a vet on a bridge drinking a beer, a member of the banditos in New Mexico, Flo from the movie Cars, Rob the photocopy guy in San Francisco .
- Learned Macro photography in a two week trip in Bonaire.
- Got the camera of my dreams as well with a 500mm lens.
- Retired from the military after 27 years with the last the hardest on the mind
- There is more but my mind is slowly being fried for the night
So to end the year I purchased 4 hours of tattoo time in which Polly took 30 mins in getting her first Tattoo but I have a bigger one coming starting tomorrow.
So to all my friends and those I missed the most I hope this year will even be better for all of us. Have a safe night and if you drink let someone else drive you home it’s not the eighties anymore.
