hi sandy!

 

been wanting to say those pics are great...wendy

what do you think about when under the water?

 

thx rich!

what i think about under water.. usually there is no thought at first. from the moment my body meets the water, *if its not fqn colder than ice*, (actually, even then, it's the same), i tend to be mesmerized. boat dives usually take my breath away instantly.

distinctly remember the first time i went into the kelp forest off catalina island, it was nothing like i ever imagined. Originally the inspiration to see a kelp forrest was from standing at the Kelp Forest Exhibit at monterey bay.. you are just simply minimalized in from of that huge tank, with the gentle fronds moving side to side.. seeing the sunlight filter down in crystal clear bars just, moved something inside. felt, connected. its strange how lulling the wave action can be. it spawned a thought " i want to swim in that!! its so cool!!" ---> fast forward a few years.. its too cool. the experience is definantly something else.. the giganticism throws you off. both awe inspiring, yet fearsome. when you see the biggest living object in your life, (for me, its the largest so far) coming out of the deep blue at you, all its extensions seemingly reaching for you, its creepy. you kind of, sort of, have to remind yourself not to stop breathing, whether out of fear, or amazement. either way, keep breathing. so i guess thats one thought..

but after you've become acclimated to the conditions, understandings begin to set in. it helps to have a background knowledge of why things are where they are, not to sound like a marine biologist in training, but seriously, you have a WAY better appreciation and understanding of not only the marine life, but the ecology of the entire system in which you are penetrating, and its everything combined that knocks your boots off. its one thing to go into the ocean and be "holy chit!" and another thing to go into the ocean and be "holy chit! holy chit THATS WHY!" and to see what you learn from a textbook or article, in action, its mindblowing. understanding can be such a rush.

generally, i wonder if they fish are 'observing' me, as i are them. one time, i saw a golden phase leopard grouper. first off, they're quite abundant, but to see one in its golden phase, that is rare. imagine, a big fish, longer than a sea bass, but golden like a gold fish, and swims fast. to see this long, golden torpedo dart in and out of thousands of fish, a mixture of finescale triggerfish, mexican hogfish, spotted sand basses, spinster wrasses, gray bar grunts, pacific porgeys, king angels, all in the water column, and with your demersal species flanked with bullseye stingrays and guitar fish and giant diamond rays, not mention dolphins further off, oof. its intense.

often times i find myself wishing i could share it with that special someone.

thoughts, in caption are as follows
"HotdAMN its cold!"
"just keep kicking"
"FQN URCHIN!" (as i was stabbed by one in the upper arm)
"wow a shipwreck coo- Holy chit did you see that?!?!" of course the bubbles make it sound more like "hwoobbbolly mbbbit bbbdidbb blooou shlleee thllat?" *frantic pointing that is unstimulatingly slowed down to a slight, jabbing motion towards the big blue yonder. yes, we look like fqn idiots in the water.

"............ what is that?........."
"... hi fishy fishy.... ive come to observe you today"
"godamnit, where did that fish go"
"hey you stupid fish - oh hi there fish.. hey lil' guy"
**day 3 of fish observation**
"pepe le pieu, where are you" (he must've gone fishin for food)
"ah, there you are, thought i lost you. i see you've got a friend there"

in the big ocean " DID YOU SEE THAT YELLOWFIN!??!"
"DID YOU SEE THAT DIAMOND RAY?!?!?! *follow it wendy* - no wendy, its dangerous - *follow it wendy* - wendy, dont get so close, you might scare it. it does had a stinger bigger than your face * follow it wendy. its your once in a lifetime chance to swim with that giant shami. *touch it wendy* -Dont Touch IT.. its hard not to do what your ID wants. reason only allows you to get within a foot of touching it.. *sighs*

more thoughts to come. oh yea.

 

Excellent pictures Wendy... and to think... no pythons either.

 

as the fire wood crackles on the beach ....yeah that sounds great

 

Holy shiet....VTEC!!!!!

Great pics Wendy. I guess you didn't notice me in the Prius in Santa Monica.

 

haha vtec that's right!

no! i missed you in SM! was omw to work, late ;x. hopefully i didnt cut you off or something.

how is everything?

-w-