Charleston Aquarium Volunteer Orientation

Well, we've been waiting since around October and the day is finally here. Saturday morning will find Lee and I sitting through the Charleston Aquarium's Volunteer Orientation class.

The goal is for this to lead to a new "career" as a volunteer diver. If we pass all the check out exams - both written and in the water - we'll be allowed to volunteer dive in the aquarium two days a month.

Here is a video of someone as a volunteer diver at an aquarium. And here is a video of a volunteer diver feeding the fish; notice he's not diving with tanks or a BCD. Maybe one day I can post a similar video or photo of Lee and me.

(The photo shows a volunteer diver at an aquarium in Long Beach.)

a diver finding a megalodon tooth

Check out this video I just found of a diver finding a megalodon tooth.

Guess it will take practice, just like honing the skill of taking good pictures underwater. What a shame that this will require lots of diving... bummer...LOL

Bitten by the fossil finding bug - - or should I say tooth

Lee and I went to the fossil show yesterday. It was absolutely fascinating. You know, I've studied fossils in school and taught kids about them when I used to teach. I've even made a point of visiting museums to see fossil exhibits across the nation. But I've never seen personal collections like this.

It was exciting and interesting to talk to people about their finds. And it made me anxious to try my hand at underwater fossil hunting. I can't wait to get back in the water to see fish - - and now to find some teeth... I've been bitten - - by the fossil hunting bug... so much so that I dreamt about it last night. Look out fossil hunters - - there's another hunter seeking in the waters now...

Check out the photos Lee took of the collections at the show on photobucket.

Here are some megalodon sharks teeth Lee previously found while diving here in Charleston, SC.

PADI AOW here I come

I've set a personal goal to complete my Advanced Open Water (AOW) certification before the end of the month. As a voracious reader, this means that I've officially put myself on restrictions from reading anything other than my AOW instruction book.

I only have to study through around 400 pages that cover knowledge development for the two required components - the Deep and Underwater Navigation Dives. Additional material covers Underwater Photography, Night Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck Diver, Boat Diver and Underwater Naturalist.

I've already accomplished the dives and boat training that goes along with this certification. So, once I finish reading, I'll take the test and be a PADI AOW certified diver. Wahoo!

Turning a corner

We turned a corner this morning in three ways: 1)his swelling is noticeably going down 2)his coloring is improving ever so slightly from deep, purple-red to a little bit of pink and 3)most importantly he asked for an ice cube.

Now I know that asking for an ice cube sounds strange to most. But prior to the surgery, Angus would ask me for an ice cube anytime he heard me open the freezer.

I spoke to the doctor yesterday. He believes we'll be through this in about a month.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to Angus and me as we've been going through this trying time. The calls, e-mails and cards for Angus have been adorable. It has been appreciated more than you know. We'll just keep taking it one day at a time.

Angus update

We went to the vet this morning. He said Angus' swelling from the surgery is rare but has been known to occur. (His scrotum is filled with blood and about the size of a medium grapefruit now.) He told me it should go away in about a week. The doctor said that if this doesn't go away in a week, we'll have to drain it.

He sent us home with a ton of meds - antibiotics and pain - and said to keep him calm. He also sent us home with an Elizabethan collar so Angus wouldn't lick the wound. But I have to tell you that the collar stressed him out so that I took it off.

I'm really concerned about this, but am trying not to show it around Angus. Just showing him lots of love.

Thank you all for your kind words and prayers.

Long journey

It would have been nice to know about the long journey Angus and I were going to embark upon when he came home from his surgery on Wednesday afternoon. Since his return home we've been experiencing swelling and moaning-mania. I feel so sorry for this big guy. It's Sunday p.m. and the swelling hasn't gone down. Needless to say, I'll be calling the doctor - AGAIN - tomorrow morning.