Diving Today

I went diving today with Paul. Usually Adam is with us, but he was away on vacation. This is a strip mining pit that the springs have filled up. The water is warm above the thermocline at 15 and colder below that.

Here is a bluegill when we first got in

This is a big rock that we use for a landmark over by the first northwest side

Just some more fish life

There are kelp like plants reaching from bottom to top in some places

Kind of reminds me of Pandora in Avatar

The Lion King

Elaine, Ryan, Aaron, Ashley (Ryan's friend) and I went to the Cleveland Playhouse for the Disney Production of the Lion King Musical.

It was a dazzling show and we had a wonderful time.

Pearl Harbor Memories 2012

My father was a World War II Veteran and served in the army. He was in the Signal Corp and stationed at Hickam Air Base, which was right next door to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Here is my father's incredible eyewitness testimony of December 7, 1941, the bombing and attack on Pearl Harbor. Sadly, my father passed away two years ago. He was a great American and a great man.

Grand Cayman Dive Videos


First dive in Grand Cayman and my dive buddy finds this 5 to 6 foot green moray eel thinking it is hidden in a hole, when it is barely covered by the coral.


Nothing big to see here, but this is a deep wall dive at 100 feet.  The wall goes down to 6,000 feet.  I kept turning around, looking, and hoping to see something big going past in the open ocean, but never happened.  They don't get many whale sharks here, though one was spotted on the northwest part of the island.


Cute little drummer fish


Little lion fish about 10 seconds into to the video.  I had seen one this size before in Fort Lauderdale last year.  Lion fish are a problem as they are devouring the coral fish life to the point that it is open season on them.  The dive guides spear them when they see them and sell them to local restaurants.  I was in the gym working out with a gentleman from Texas who said that his wife had the lion fish at Tukka's Restaurant.  She said it was delicious.


I showed you the above lion fish as this was an enormous lion fish.  The guide did not have his spear with him.


Lois pointed out this big puffer fish on the second dive.  It was kind of cute in an ugly sort of way.


I saw several of these big lobsters.  Wow, just wanted to reach in, grab them, grill them, and dip them in butter.  Probably not a good idea, if you don't know what you are doing and I don't.  I have heard they are fierce fighters.


Here was a huge lobster hidden away.  I found him while shining my flashlight in this hole.


Some of the reef life

Grand Cayman Island Vacation Videos


The view from our balcony.  I wish I was still there.


Bruce, Lois, Amy, and Craig and Michelle, relaxing by the pools.  Why not?


Rum Point


Entering Rum Point common way


What to do while at Rum Point


Beautiful beach and crystal clear water


Signing off from Rum Point

Starfish Beach Grand Cayman Island

Lois had heard something about a beach with starfish and a dolphin, so the last day, we went off to find it.  After a couple of wrong turns, we finally found the beach at Ivory Kai Point.

There was not alot of them around, but the ones we did find were very unusual and beautiful to look at.

Grand Cayman Adventure Photos

Elaine and me at Morritts Resort David's Restaurant.  Maybe our first day lunch was disappointing, but the rest of the trip, the food was wonderful.

Bruce and Lois

Elaine and I went to Georgetown and there were two cruise ships there.  Not bad walking around, really hot, but the parking was horrendous.  Took us a half hour to find a parking spot.

Pirate Statue

Manta Ray fountain

I thought this might be an interesting shot

This was taken at Camana Bay Shopping Village.  Surprisingly, it was very much like an early Cleveland Legacy Village or Columbus Legacy Village.  Very much American style high end shops, not the Cayman tourist shops of Georgetown.  I heard Apple was going to put an Apple Store in, so I guess this might tell you the direction they are moving in.

Panoramas from Grand Cayman


Click on each picture for the larger size

This shot is taken in front of the pool area at the Reef Resort

This was taken at the Morritt's Resort David's Restaurant ceiling

This was taken at Camana Bay Shopping District facing the boat and yacht lagoon

This was the perfect view every morning from our balcony

Elaine and I at the Akron Zoo

 Penguins are cool.  Click on the photo to enlarge

 Mid-day heat and nap

 First time I ever saw this Komodo Dragon doing something other than sleeping

More Washington DC Photos

Some composite panoramas that I made from individual shots.  Please click on the photos for a bigger view.

Closest view I got of the White House

 In a quick trip the next day, I did walk over to the Viet Nam Memorial

 Outside of the Lincoln Memorial

World War II Memorial Washington DC

God works in mysterious ways.  In April of 2004, I was visiting my parents the same day the World War II Memorial in Washington DC opened and we watched the opening ceremony together.  My father was quite excited about the memorial and I am sure that he longed to visit it, but his health did not allow him.  I told him that I would like to go and photo and video it, but I just never knew when the opportunity would present itself. Elaine and I would discuss vacations and trips and sometimes Washington DC would come up, but we just never decided on it.  Sadly, my father passed away two years ago, never having gone and I never went to show him photos and videos.  In the back of my mind somewhere, this always bothered me as unfulfilled mission of the worst kind as you just never know how long you will have in this world.

Three weeks ago, I get an email from the U.S. Department of State asking me to evaluate Middle East employment and entrepreneurship proposals.  At the end of the process, besides paying me for the work, they would fly me down to DC, put me up, and pay my expenses as there was a necessary meeting to discuss the proposals for possible funding.  An all expense paid trip to DC and getting paid on top?  God works in mysterious ways.

Once in DC with some precious free time, I met up with my cousin Mike and our first stop was the World War II Memorial.  My uncle Albert was in the military, too and Mike reminded me that our grandfather was a World War I veteran.  We arrived at the Memorial.

 This is the Atlantic side entrance signifying the war in the Atlantic theater.

 These tokens of expression to honor departed loved ones were throughout the Memorial

 Inside, looking towards the Pacific theater side

 My father was from Barnesboro, Pennsylvania

I was glad to see school children there.  Best history lesson in the world for why they have the freedom to enjoy what they have in life

 Now we move to the Pacific theater side

 This was the Park Service Building where one can get information and assistance

 My mother registered my father on the World War II Honoree website

 As many of you know, my father was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  If you would like to watch his incredible eyewitness testimony of the events of that day, please click on any December link on the left sidebar and you will find it.

These are wondering outside of the Memorial

Strangely enough, Altoona Middle School students were in attendance, which is where my mother is from and Mike and I visited our grandparents on many occasions.  This photo was by permission of the teacher.

Here are the Pearl Harbor inscriptions

One last look back before we left.  I will never forget today for as long as I live.