I'm Always Mentally on Vacation

Fast Food Slow

WEST END, ST CROIX - On the island I run into countless fast food chains of one. They dot the beaches. They are Wendy’s, Taco-bell, Pizza Hut with a bar all rolled into one. Each is different and each has their own flair.

Rather than following a strict corporate formula of two ounces of this and 5 grams of that the makers of this fast food follow their heart. The outcome is so different and so refreshing.

And...it ain’t fast either. But it is good.

Here I was enjoying a fish taco at Coconuts on The Beach between dives. It was mighty fine.

© 2011 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Bragging on the Kids

MIDLAND, NC - Border collies are said to be smart. If given a challenge a bright border collie will amaze me every time.

As part of my multi year out of pocket, pay as I go renovations we decided to fence the area that divided the house and guest house. A great deal of the fence is in the wooded area for the dogs to run free and enjoy themselves.

Close to the structures we have more ornate fencing. And finally on the deck we have a very nice gate with a latch.

Tanner has already figured out how to open the latch and let himself out. I saw him do it yesterday.

Finally I have to brag once again on my hens. First sunny side up eggs I have done in a long time.

The Cool Kids

CHRISTIANSTED, VI - Nothing better than being one of the cool kids coming into the harbor from a long day at Buck Island.

Activities on Buck include, eating, drinking, swimming, laughing, and snorkeling. It is storybook beautiful.

A Pier Dive

FREDERIKSTED, VI - I hate jumping from heights.

I love to scuba dive.

I like scuba diving more than I hate heights.

I am so looking forward to diving in warm clear water next month.

Two Years Ago....

CHARLOTTE, NC - Two years ago I looked like Boss Nass.

A drug reaction during Wildcard Weekend caused this. I was back to my handsome self in a few days.

Kids....don't mess with drugs.

Big Doings Right Here in River City

MIDLAND, NC - Big doings here in my Scuba world. I have a high definition underwater video camera on my terms.

You see people often ask me why don’t I take pictures underwater. Number one, an underwater camera capable of going depths of 130 feet is expensive. Number two, I don’t care if I ever see another moray eel or most any wildlife underwater.

I don’t dive to see wildlife like the majority of divers do. Oh I do get a rush going up against a school of thousands of fish but basically I dive for different reasons.

When I posted that video the other day I got excited about getting a camera because the sights and sounds were so realistic.

So I set out to find the best quality camera at a great price. I settled on a Flip Video Camera HD with 2 hour recording time for $117 on eBay.

Next was the case. Ikelite makes the best and only case for this Flip Video. They are the standard of the industry and typically a case can run $300 and up.

I found one for $246 with no shipping and no sales tax.

So while I refused to buy a mediocre video camera for $500, I think I have put together a very good video camera for $363. Plus this case comes with a filter that will assist with color under water.

Expect to joint me in my underwater adventures.

Living in Denial

MIDLAND, NC - For most of my adult life I have been living in denial about the coldness of winter. Like a good alcoholic I was able to cover up and get by but deep inside I was cold.

I would dash outside in the cold under dressed into a warm car and then dash through the cold into a heated office.

I would visit the barn under protected and be miserable in 5 minutes.

This winter so far is as cold as last which was unusually cold for North Carolina but this year I am fighting back.

First, I have my insulated Dickies. They are so warm, so encompassing and so easy to put on and take off that I don’t avoid using them.

Second, I have been layering, overdressing and taking extra layers just in case.

Third, I have been covering my head more and using a polar Buff around my neck and head.

Finally this has allowed me to spend many more hours outside where I prefer to be.

I know this seems like common sense to a Midwesterner but you have to know a bit about our winters. A good winter here is cold but not harsh. Everything is dark and wet. Highs are upper 50’s to warm lower 60’s with lows around 30.

This year is like last. Lows in the low 20’s to upper teens. Frozen ground in the morning until noon. Highs in the 40’s to maybe 50 and always a brisk breeze. We have had quite a few days in the 30’s and lows in the teens.

These winters are in stark contrast to each other.

So The Grind Goes on

CHARLOTTE, NC - And so I am 40 days away from my winter island vacation and I fully expect to dive and hike and sail when I down there.

Problem is I have about a month of sitting on my ass and avoiding the usual cardio workout that I have done for years.

My knee is a bit sore so the thoughts of the stationary bike hurt. But I have to do something to build a little stamina and work off some pudge around the middle.

Me walking all alone in my thoughts

I looked out my window and said to myself, “wReggie....why you could walk that 5 story deck a few times and that would get your fat ass moving”. And I did. Twice in 32 minutes. It was a nice brisk walk and I feel good.

A Quarry Dive Experience

BLANCH, NC - Ever wonder what fresh water quarry diving is like? This video was shot 1/1/11 at the JMR quarry in Blanch, NC. This is one of three quarries that I have access to through the Piedmont Diving Rescue Association (PDRA).

I normally dive the Lake Norman Quarry but did dive this quarry on the video once this past summer. The visibility at the time of my dive was horrible so I never saw any of the things on this video.

The water was 45 degrees and the visibility was good.

The two fellows on this dive are PDRA members.

Trust me, they are warm in their dry suits and are having a blast.

Video used with permission of Steve Campbell and edited by me.

A Restful Day

BLOG CENTRAL - If I had this delicious New Year Day meal of chopped collards, black eye peas and pulled pork, then what did the chickens get special for New Years?

The Repair

BARNYARD - Yesterday the weather has turned unusually warm and a thick fog blanketed the homestead.

With the weather clearing I decided I would take advantage of the warmth and repair a crack that occurred on my cast iron spigot from last weeks cold.

So I inspected the damage.

I cleaned out the crack.

Using my finest china and silverware I mixed the J B Weld.

I smeared it on as even and as bonding as I know how. I ain't no Mic ya know.

Think it will work?

Happy New Year!

MIDLAND, NC - Wow! What a 2010 and welcome to 2011....year six of Mental Vacation.

Like all good classic logos mine is updated for 2011. I needed my old original photo back with the biplane chasing me but new and improved. Kind of like Aunt Jemimah gets updated from looking like Mammy to Holly Barry, I need a new look too.

A new picture, updated face and a new wide screen layout to greet you for the new year.

Today is a very traditional day in the life of a Southerner because today is the only day when your behavior can influence the outcome of the year ahead.

Don’t ask me where this comes from, my parents passed it down to me. And secretly all traditional Southerners are doing a variation of this tradition today.

It is all based on luck for the coming year. Personally I hope we get Luck as in Andrew Luck quarterback from Stanford as our number one draft pick but that would be selfish and un-gentlemen like.

So here are the rules as taught by my mother to assure good luck in the new year:

1. One must not do laundry on the first day of the year.
2. One must not take out ashes on the first day of the year.
3. One must eat greens to ensure plenty of money in the new year. Traditionally collard greens or turnip greens but a ruling by my mother a few years also included a salad so Gigi would have money too. She gags when she even smell collards.
4. One must consume Black Eyed Peas for luck. It is a special bean that Southerners eat. I don’t think any other bean will substitute but I can ask her for a ruling if Yankees want to play along.
5. One must eat pork for good luck. Traditionally we ate hog jaws. You can’t find them anymore so the ruling board decided pork was close enough. I’ll have a slow cooked Boston Butt.

Now before you question the authenticity of this and the rule bending remember that there are Catholics in hell doing hard time for eating meat on Friday only for others to get a pass on the rule after Vatican II. I still order a flounder sandwich on Fridays even though I’m Protestant because of tradition.

Play along if you like. It couldn't hurt and we can all use good luck. Maybe it will become your tradition too.

Feast and Famine 17?? to 2010

This is the grave of my great, great, grandfather Fabious Watson Hunnicutt.

His father was a farmer named Green Hunnicutt. And his father’s father was a farmer named Henry Hunnicutt.

Fabious died a wealthy man.

He served on the Confederate side of the war and was in the Calvary. He brought his own horse and tack to the effort and was paid $15 for his contribution by the Confederate States of America.

He was captured and served the yankee army by baling hay for the Union Calvary in Virginia.

I have a copy of his signed pledge of allegiance to the United States in order for him to be a free man.

After the war he became wealthy rebuilding the ruins of the south particularly in Raleigh, NC. He built Rex Hospital and Central Prison which were both major public works projects. He built many roads and sidewalks in the Capital of NC. To this day you can still see, “Old Reliable Hunnicutt of Course” stamped in ancient concrete walk ways near the Capital building.

His son Fabious Henry Hunnicutt son took over the business and lost it all in The Great Depression. His son is buried in an unmarked grave beside him.

His son was my grand father Fabious Jefferson Hunnicutt and he was a pharmacist.

His son was my father and he was a salesman and a damn funny guy. He died too young.

Then there is me. My dad and I have the same name and I am a junior.

© 2010 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Christmas in Dixie

This past Christmas was my first ever white Christmas. It rarely snows here and never on Christmas Day. It came late and most of these pictures were shot on the 26th by my sister in law.

A manly man working in the snow with his Dickies.

Chickens celebrating a holy day.

Back side of the old house.

Down the driveway and along the pasture.

Gigi drying off Tanner.

Tanner and Galaxy playing at the barn. They are such good friends.

Cotton kicking up a bit in the snow.

Can she still herd with three legs...you betcha!

Galaxy grinning for the camera.

Richard

This is Richard, one of the homeless men of Christiansted. He is a consumer of fine alcohol and street drugs. He is Rasta so if you want to buy him food make it a cheese sandwich or french fries...no meat. He is interesting to talk to both stoned or sober. He is a colorful dresser and accomplished percussionist.

He is not on any dental plan that I know of.

Kind of Miss, Miss Judith

For some reason this morning I was thinking about Miss Judith. I usually see her pushing a shopping cart selling stuff in Christiansted. She is always smiling and has a quiet demeanor.

She usually shows up at the evening crab races or street festivals and sells roasted peanuts.

Miss Judith will accept tips and a cold Budweiser.

Jesus Hung Out With Tax Collectors

I just ran my payroll for the year end 12/31 paycheck for me (Gigi) and my one employee.

I run the business and Gigi runs the household.

For over a decade I have made a payroll for us and an employee. Never has anyone missed a check even though times have been tight during that period.

Whatever I pay I have to match Social Security or go to prison. That means social security is doubled for me and anyone I pay gets matched. Keep in mind my benefits aren’t doubled....I just have to pay double. So whatever I give in salary is 7% more and I have to come up with that.

Then I give the money to the employee but then take it away and send it to the state and feds or I go to prison. What we all have left is our paycheck.

I am a tax collector...for free. No that’s not true because I pay a payroll company to do this.

I think it would do us all well if all politicians had to sustain a payroll for an extended period.

* LOCATIONS... THE WESTERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA.

* HAZARDS... HEAVY SNOW.