I'm Always Mentally on Vacation

Rednecks Invade St Croix!

NORTH CAROLINA - Literally a plane load of Red Necks are set to fly non-stop from Charlotte, NC to St. Croix to share cultural diversity with the local inhabitants.

The packing, day dreaming and planning is done.

Weather next week looks awesome. Saturday through Thuesday looks hot with highs around 86. High winds will keep me diving in the west end of the island until Wednesday when the winds are set to die down and so will temperatures with highs around 82.

“I’m writhing like a worm in hot ashes”, exclaimed local Red Neck and guide wReggie.

© 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.

A Milestone

Big Red is a Sr Citizen now.

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.

Dive Planning

The eastern point of the island of St Croix and the United States know as Point Udall.

I have 32 dives in my dive log and they have been accumulated since I got certified back in May. It is a combination of warm water, cold water, high visibility, almost no visibility, wreck drives, night dives, fresh water, salt water, wet suit, no suit, dry suit, deep dives and shallow dives.

Still this is so new to me that the thrill of diving almost anywhere is a rush alone. Being weightless and breathing underwater and seeing things that no one else is seeing drives me.

Plus I have to admit there is a danger thrill drives me and I obsess about contingencies.

I am configuring a complete redundant backup system that will use a 30 CF cylinder, strapped to my 80 CF cylinder, and it will have it own regulator and pressure gauge in case of the main system failure.

I am going to make it from a spare set of regulators I have down on the island, a new cylinder and a connecting strap.

This will give me and anyone near me another safety bailout option. Regulators can and do fail. A failure at 130 feet is much more critical that a failure at 45 feet. I have a 3 CF Spare Air cylinder that would work okay for shallow dives but not beyond that. At great depths I would suck that small cylinder dry in about 2 minutes.

There lies the motivation for a lager bailout system.

I still want to dive the graveyard and it is 130 feet. So I think on this upcoming trip I want to push the depth a bit to see how I do at 130. It may not be for me mentally or physically.

Going Home

This rock on my desk ...

came from this place ….. and it is going home where it belongs.

Diver Humor

Decompression stop.

Keeping You in the Loop

To Direct TV

I got a call this morning from Direct TV to follow up on a service call. As usual a major screw up. The installer was great but he had the wrong instructions. You don't listen to your customers. Now I have been double billed and have an extra receiver that I didn't authorize and $200 lighter in the pocket with nothing to show for it but anger. It takes so much of my day and energy to call back and talk to someone that I have decided to stew a few days. Here is what I ordered...one DVR for the whole house. What I got was two DVRs and one installed and you didn't send the equipment for a whole house install. Plus you charged me for two DVRs. Unfortunately this is very typical of what I get from you. I am a long time customer and am used to being treated second class but it gets very old and I grow weary. Call me if you want but have a plan to fix this. Don't say you are sorry any more, it gets old and you don't mean it. And cut out the corny "Have I answered all you questions today?"

From Direct TV

Response (Aubrey S. - 100126090) - 02/06/2011 08:11 PM

Dear Mr. wReggie,

Thanks for taking the time to write us.

I see you've been with us for many years and I would like to let you know that we appreciate your business.

I completely understand your concern for getting a correct equipment order. We strive to provide the best customer service possible and I understand what a disappointment this difficult experience must have been. Please accept my apology on behalf of DIRECTV.

I personally want to help you in getting this matter resolved and I have forwarded your information for special handling. Rest assured our team is reviewing your email to ensure that all steps were taken to guarantee a timely resolution. A specialist will respond as soon as an agent is available (likely within 24 hours).

Thanks again for writing and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

Aubrey S.

Employee ID 100126090

DIRECTV Customer Service

Adventures of wReggie and His Chickens

Happy Birthday Mr. President

I am glad I voted for him, twice. What a wonderful man he was. Ronald Reagan was born 100 years ago today.

Ronaldus Maximus as we conservatives call him. A statesman in his own time.

He would pick up the phone and negotiate policy with majority leader Tip O'Neil. He knew when to negotiate and knew when to stand his ground.

In Case You Were Worried....

Yellow boys will go.

What I Learned this Week

The Democratic National Convention is coming to my town in 2012.

Egypt falls after two weeks of bitching in the streets.

If we can get the DNC convention and weather is not an issue IE Jet and Giants hosting an upcoming Super Bowl, then Charlotte should go after hosting a Super Bowl.

I kind of like the idea of riding a camel through town with a big whip striking out at those you oppose.

I would really hate to die by a Chimpanzee eating my face off while alive.

Hey...That's My Name

Some wealthy guy in a Porsche that went to Auburn University named Wreg parked in my lot.

Potential Prime Parking

Barney Frank?

The Democrats are coming to Charlotte in 2012. I can’t believe it. The Democratic National Convention in my city. Wow.

It makes my skin crawl but I am happy for us.

Maybe I can rent the guest house to Mr. Obama?

Oh Yeah

Is this Jeep cool or what?

I could see me 15 years from now in this on the island with a white shirt, Bermuda shorts and knee socks picking up tourists at the airport.

Interesting....Weight In Please Rock Chef

Sure Signs of Spring

We had an incredible warm day yesterday that topped out at 71. Everyone and every creature was smiling. I saw a bewildered gecko warming on the door mat and looked like he could really use a nice big juicy fly.

The Charlotte Bobcats are on a west coast swing so that means the circus is in town, and that means Peta is in town bitching about the elephants.

Charlotte is home to The NASCAR Hall of Fame in case you didn’t know. They projected first year attendance at 800,000 but came in at like 318 so they are in trouble. But anyway talk of the Daytona 500 in two weeks always heralds in the new season.

The PGA cranked up the season in California. They’ll piddle around CA for a few weeks, then AZ, then Florida and before you know it ….The Masters.

I am so looking forward to warm Caribbean breezes in 12 days.

The Possibilities

They were $299. Then $199. Then $129. Then $99. Today on sale for $79 at Best Buy. I have a mini keg of New Castle chilling.

Too Windy to Burn

I ground it down and channeled the crack. Then cleaned it with acetone and applied the cement.

This is bacon and eggs central. Shiny washed eggs in the front.

Gentleman Tanner

The smell of leather, fine cigars and bourbon define this gentleman Border Collie. Here in the library, Tanner enjoys basking in the sun beams as he contemplates on his life.

Should Be 60 Degrees Today!

Today is prep work day for my travels in two weeks. I am breaking in some new Reef Flip Flops with the handy bottle opener on the sole by walking around the house in them.

I have removed the low pressure hose on my regulator since I will not be inflating a dry suit for some time. My dive computer is getting a checkout as to the settings and I am changing the clock to Atlantic time.

Then I’ll take another run at repairing that spigot. I have a grinder this time so I’ll give it a good work over before setting the glue.

The burn pile has gotten big again so I’ll torch that while I’m up working on the spigot.

I’m thinking a video will follow tomorrow.