We Did It!!!

Wow, I can't believe it. I was in the airport leaving to Key Largo when the Bulldogs were flying in after winning the WAC tournament. Everyone thought that was a great accomplishment. HA. Those few weeks ago seem like an eternity cause now our Dogs are NATIONAL CHAMPS BABY!!! What a ride of emotions during the CWS. I was fortunate enough to watch every game. WAY TO GO DOGS!!!

Video Camera

So after shooting some footage with my phone today on my bday (thanks for all of those who sent bday wishes, for those who didn't you are dead to me), I realized I need a new video camera. The last one we had was like a Sony TRV19 or something. I don't even know what happened to it. Especially with the baby coming, I am going to be in need of a decent camera to capture the memories forever. I want two things:

1) HD

2) Be able to get a housing for it for SCUBA (Sony is the best as backscatter can custom make me one).

I am open to about anything that has these two requirements. Most people know me as a technology guy. That is actually not very accurate. I like to have the latest and greatest, but only on some things. I was the first I knew for HD TV and 7.1 Dolby Surround. But that is where my techie stuff ends. I like technology and the latest for TV and movie watching. I don't know when it comes to video cameras for sure. So I need some help. I know the weavester will come up with some good stuff. Any other underground techies with advice???

PS 45 minutes left of my Bday.

Kids Choir Michael Jackson Parody

That's right. You didn't read it wrong. There isn't a lot of fun fathers day songs out there for kids to their fathers. Sure I could pull out "Daddy's hands" or "Father's Eyes" and try and go for tears, but I thought we could do something a little different. For fathers day at New Cov, I had the kids sing a parody I wrote and arranged of Michael Jackson's "Bad." We called it "Dad." We used it to close the service, and all of the dads (and moms) seemed to love it. This is a terrible recording taken with a phone. Besides the ushers getting in the way collecting the offering, the sound doesn't do it justice as the band is completely lost besides the drums (but I have yet to find a phone that will record audio decently without several additional pieces of equipment). The band and tech team did a great job as it looked and sounded great live. Hope you enjoy.



Lyrics:
V1. You taught me how to through a ball
To ride my bike and not to fall
You work so hard for all I need
Still you mow the lawn and pull the weeds

Pre. We take this time to tell ya
We're glad for all u do
But what means the most to us
Is that we see God in you

Ch. Because you're dad, you're dad, we love you
Because you're dad, you're dad, you know it
Because you're dad, you're dad, we love you
Out of all the men in the whole wide world, I gotta say I'm glad that you're
My Dad.

V2. The big games on but you're not there
You're at a dance recital in the front row chair
You always play no matter how you feel
And you're always ready with your fishing reel

V3. I watch you more than you ever could know
I'm growing day by day cause of the seeds you sow
You're love is clear in all I see
And you'll never know how much you mean to me

This post is part of Water Cooler Wed. hosted by Ethos.
This post is part of Creative Chaos hosted by ragamuffinsoul.

What I have learned from Hollywood...

The only time you can tell anyone about issues of national security, or reveal CIA secrets is either on a park bench around one of the big D.C. monuments, or walking along the reflection pool. Think about it... how many times have u seen that? How many movies can you name?

Goodbye Good Friend...Or just See ya Later

So Randy has made it official to the Public. I am going to miss you buddy. You have become one of my best friends, and definitely my best buddy!!! If anyone feels the way about me moving away as I do about you, it definitely makes me hesitant to do so again. I love your bro and am going to miss you. However as sad as I am for my loss, I am grateful for the opportunity you are going to have, and the great scale on which it is going to be. It is going to be crazy the amount of life change you will have a hand in on a weekly basis. It seems like every trek of your life, even when it made no sense at the time, has been leading to such opportunities to do such great work. Good luck and bon voyage my friend.

Cool Church

Pursuit Intro HD from Port City Community Church on Vimeo.

My wife has spent countless hours researching churches in the Wilmington, N.C. area to check out when we go to scope it out. This is the one she is dying to check out. It is portcitychurch.org Check out these videos. One is a message bumper that they made themselves for a series called "Pursuit."

Now you have to go HERE and check out there opener for the series. I am excited to check it out. The top is what they had on the screens and the bottom is video of the band (obviously).

I know a lot of people that are like me and all of their good ideas come in the shower. But the problem is sometimes I have been in the shower and have elaborated on an idea and have a good plan of attack and then shut off the shower and ask myself "Did I wash? Did I even pick up the soap or shampoo. I have been in here 15 min I am sure I had to have." Ever happen to anyone else? Make sure after your brainstorming session that you accomplish mission numero uno.

Northern Light (wasn't shining)

Well the first thing you learn in the technical diving class is that the number 1 mission is to return from the dive alive and unharmed, everything else is secondary. Our second mission was to descend below 185ft, and do a blue water deco (this is when you blow a lift bag with a reel and then slowly ascend up the line so the boat can spot you). It is a little eerie because all you see is blue, beneath you, above you, and to all sides, nothing but blue water. You could be sinking or floating to the top, and you might not know it (hence all the training). The third objective of this dive was to dive the Northern Light. The first two were accomplished, but the latter was not. We went to the GPS coordinates where the wreck is and found it on the bottom finder. We threw a line down with a grapple (big hook) to mark it. When we were about to jump in the grapple came loose and started floating away. So the captain drove us upcurrent and dropped us, by the time we got to the bottom the current had taken us well off the wreck. It was no where in sight. We sway around for about 10 min (in pretty good current). Then I blew my lift bag with the reel and started to ascend. I switched to 50% oxygen at 70ft and then to 100% at 20 ft. Out total dive time was 55 minutes. It was great practice and training, but the Northern Light will have to be another time and another day.

Northern Light

Well today is going to conclude my technical training (just formally because with diving and gaining experience the learning never stops). I have completed the course on several dives on the Spiegel Grove and Duane, and now taking a step up. The plan today is to dive the Northern Light. I love diving the artificial reefs (purposefully sunk old ships) but there is something to the mystique about diving a real ship wreck. This wreck is in 190 feet of water and is not marked at the surface (like most dive sites are marked with mooring balls at the surface). It is not dove very often so I am really looking forward to it. I spent the better part of yesterday blending my gas and developing a dive plan (yes all that for 25 minutes actually on the wreck) and now am just praying for decent weather. I will let you all know how it goes, I will probably be either very pumped, or I will be disappointed that the weather didn't let us get there.