Thursday, August 30, 2007

Busy Busy Home and Happy!

If tonight's pool dive had been recreational, I would not have gone. Tonight, however, I had students expecting training and no amount of lack of sleep, train lag, or headache was going to stop me. And five minutes after I was in the water, I was happy. Five minutes after.

We used the outdoor pool. A balmy 23C calls for a slightly thicker wetsuit than I own. So moments after I demonstrated a giant-stride entry my face expressed way more than I wanted to. "Flibbity gibbits that's cold!" or something similar quickly left my mouth.

But true to form, just as a wetsuit should, within five minutes the cold water in my suit warmed up, my breathing slowed, and I relaxed, happy to be underwater.

I'm pleased to report that the lesson went well! We used every moment of the allotted hour but managed to cover all the requirements for confined water dive 2 and while we didn't have have for play, we all had fun. My students impressed me, working smoothly through some of the most difficult skills.

I'm also pleased, but surprised to report that work today went well too! It started so really poorly.

I awoke at 06:15 this morning inside a freezing cold medieval stable. The thick brick and stone walls (with thick wooden beams) along with the modern appointments and renovations made for an incredibly beautiful hotel room! But it was 10C when I awoke and crawled out of bed. It felt much like the giant stride later.






(Centuries old construction and vaulted ceilings blended with antique lamps and modern touches.)

I really thought work was going poorly when we finally made it to the meeting 40 minutes late. And when the security guard told me I couldn't take my laptop computer into the building to do my software sales presentation, I was pretty sure I had made yet another international (barely) trip for naught.

And yet it went really well. It left me time to talk with the customers about what they had and what they wanted. I could describe what our software was supposed to do without it being there to contradict me. (Nice!) I honestly came away with a positive feeling.

We'll be back in the water tomorrow. The warm water, indoors. And I'm off to bed now. My own warm bed. So it's been busy, really busy, but right now I'm home and happy!

6 comments:

J. D. said...

Hi Dearest Morgan.....Your hotel looked extemely interesting and lovely. There's certainly nothing like it in the New World (That's our bad luck.) I see you hiding in the wardrobe. hee-hee-hee!

The software wasn't there to contradict you? That's a hoot, but your boss wouldn't think so.

Two beautiful words, I love to hear from you..."home" and "happy". Enjoy your weekend......Mom

Minka said...

Wow...that is a beuatiful place...I love walls impressed with history and age. Very cool, thank you for that pic and the slight hint of you taking a picture...I can see you in the mirror, you know!?

23 degrees water is cold? What kinda eel are you? *laughs*

I Dive At Night said...

Water pulls heat from your body 25 times faster than air. 23C water is REALLY cold after one full hour.

Plus I had to change outside afterwards where it was 16. Ouch!

Don't get me wrong, life is good; just lacking a bit of warmth. ;)

I Dive At Night said...

To put it in perspective though, I recall that in 2001 Iceland set a record for their highest temperature on a summer day... 23C.

Minka said...

*nods head*

exactly and we swim in an outside pool in winter two.

(side note: our water is also very hot, coming directly from the hot springs)

I Dive At Night said...

So then I won't need the wetsuit. If we bring tanks and gear in, will they let me teach you diving in the heated pool?