yakuza

I was at Turquoise Lake with the folks over at Divers Reef and did my Altitude Diver certification there. It was cold, it snowed on the way there (August 2008 by the way), and rained, and when I came out from my second dive, it started to hail on my head. It was pretty crazy, and just happened to be the coldest weekend in that area in many many years.

The water was a little murky, and it was pretty cold. I had a farmer john wetsuit on, no hood, but was able to borrow someone’s gloves fortunately.

I was told to bring some all beef hot dogs when visiting Placencia, and apparently the bar tender there (Wendy) really missed them.

I didn’t know much about scuba diving when I first walked in here. I had been emailing back and forth with one of the owners, and then signed up for classes. I’ve taken many classes there since, and spent a good deal of money, but the guys at NDC are really awesome people, and they will give you great advice about gear and what to buy or not buy. They even recommended a cheaper model of dive computer to me!

If you go, tell them Chuq sent you. :)

I ordered the Texas Hot Dog (with chili and raw onions). And expected just a hot dog with chili and raw onions. The young lady that took my order asked if I wanted a large or regular.

Large or regular hot dog? you may ask. Yep. The large hot dog comes with two franks on a sub roll. It was pretty good. I’d go there again, and perhaps try something else from their extensive menu.

My impression is that Davy’s is kind of a local restaurant where high schoolers hang out and work. It’s very fun inside, with soda fridges, interesting decor and mostly very quick and easy to make food. The small onion ring order is not small though. Be warned.

There is a place just outside of Burkittsville that is known as Spook Hill. Apparently, if you go there and turn off your car, your car will roll up hill. That’s just cool!

Scuba dive the Great Blue Hole! Well, maybe not this trip, but certainly at some point.

It’s looking like August now.

There are some fountains on the 16th Street Mall, one of which I thought I could walk over. I tried to time it so I walked over it while the water level was low, but alas, I guessed wrong and the fountain shot straight up into my crotch. As I was walking away laughing, a man walked by, looked at me and asked, “You’re not from around here are you?”

I laughingly said, “No, I’m not.”

The second to last time I drove through Menands, I got a speeding ticket. Drats!

One of my best friends got married here on Saturday. It was a wonderful ceremony and everything went perfectly.

The church itself is beautiful and old, and most of the pews are the original pews from 1841. It’s also the oldest Catholic parish church in continuous use in Baltimore.

But my room has a sink, fridge, two televisions, two closets, a jacuzzi tub and towel warmers! Towel Warmers! Sweet!

The elevators are pretty small and they only have valet parking too. The wireless internet is free, and that’s good!