Irish :: Houston's Premier Scuba and Dive Shop Oceanic Ventures Inc.

Thanksgiving Memories of Travels, Adventures, Scuba Diving and Divers

Toasting the Day with Uisce Beatha

Like New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving makes me think about things going on around me and what I have to be thankful for. I also reflect on some of the special things that happened over the past year and in years past.

There are a lot of things that have happened this year but the things that stick most in my mind are the people and the adventures I have been on during the year. It is hard to forget the stark beauty of Antarctica and the crystal clear waters lapping up against the ship or having a “wee drop of the water of life,” with Steve Brennan at each landfall. There were penguins and seals that came right up to us and birds that flew down and landed in front of us. Who can forget hearing Neal Peake and Giles Adam retell their encounter with a sea lion or the simple joy in Monica Alonso’s face as she showed her photographs of a mother penguin and her child?

In Indonesia, it was fun watching the group discover that a leaf underwater was not really a leaf or that there was really exciting things to be discovered on the sand and mud flats. It was fun watching the kids discover things underwater on their own and to watch them interact with the local children while playing ball. Perhaps the thing that sticks in my mind most was watching the school children standing in uniforms all along the cliff waiving goodbye to Moniquita Alonso.

During my two trips to Grand Cayman, I watched students blossom and find their way. Yes even technical students can have epiphanies and discover how to dive again with all of their new equipment. We even got to do a night boat dive on a wall, a rare occurrence in Grand Cayman and a dive time that is even rarer for me (Ann is the night diver).

But my memories are not limited to diving in exotic places. It was a real treat to watch David Morris plan and complete his first 100 dives which were all done in his first year of diving. His excitement was contagious and even included a party up at the lake to celebrate the achievement.

There are a lot of memories, experiences and things to be thankful for this year. I am glad that I have been able to open the door to adventure for myself and for other people as well.

Thank you to all of the people who helped create the memories for me! I only wonder what memories I have helped create for them…

Finals…is it really that time again?

UST Logo Ahhh! I never seem to have enough time to study for my Irish language class and here it is time for the final. It is a good thing that I am only auditing the course or my GPA would be in danger of bottoming out something I worried more about when I was in school in Lubbock. It would never be acceptable for a Cum Laude graduate to make the grades I am making in this class.

I am not sure how people work full time jobs and go to school at the same time. My guess is they do not own their own small businesses and teach in the evenings. At least that is my story and I am sticking to it!

Maeve is certainly patient for putting up with my attempt to learn Irish and for actually grading my tests. Of course I was quite pleased to have made simply a passing grade on my mid-term exam.

Looking at the exam this evening, I am always surprised that I can read much of it, translate some of it, write a little and always find some of it that looks like new material. That is the scariest thing, since I should have at least seen everything before I got there.

This final was fair, the course was very interesting and despite what my grades seem to reflect, I did learn a lot and had fun doing it. Thank you Maeve; we all appreciateyour valiant efforts in teaching us to speak and read Irish.

Following the exam it was an Irish student and friend get together at the Center for Irish studies. Our group planned on a pot luck format and Lori had enough food to feed 30 more people. the real students had plenty to eat and for those who stayed to clean up there were left-over’s.

Like any Irish gathering, there was a little singing, some fiddle playing, a little guitar music and a lot of good conversation. It was a fine way to end the semester and get ready for the remainder of the holiday season.

Slán and Nollaig Shona duit!