Finally a day off...

After over 2 straight weeks of work I finally enjoyed a day off to relax and spend some time with JJ and Nalu. It was the first time we've been able to go on his boat fishing without anyone else and we had a great day! Caught 2 Tuna (which made delicious sushi last night) and I caught my first Wahoo! We enjoyed a lovely evening with friends grilling out, making sushi and chatting to an early 8:00 night sleep :) 

Wrapping up '08...

So it's been a while since I've updated so sorry to those who still check. I'm making it part of my New Year's resolution to try to update a little more often. :)

A lot has happened over this past year - many changes, many tears, many smiles and laughter and many fears. Much opportunity  and a bit of uncertainty. Much love and some loss.

To sum things up since my last blog...

My amazing Great Gma passed away just shy of 107 years old 

Jessica and Ryan finally tied the knot and I was honored to be a bridesmaid...

I got to visit some of my favorite Floridians (not all are in the below photos so please don't feel left out if you're not below)...

And started a new job working at Barefoot Divers (still in Roatan, Honduras) - a high end resort/marina - as a dive instructor... 

Met the family and Still dating this wonderful fella...

Spent Christmas with friends, bonfires, boating and fishing...

Watching my beautiful island dog Nalu grow up...

So that about sums things up in my life. I'm happy with where I am and what I'm doing for the moment. I'll be back with time - when I'm ready to close this chapter and begin another just as I have done before. Each adventure is allowing me to grow spiritually and as a person. I thank God on a daily basis for the opportunities I have had thus far, even if times do get rough. I miss my friends and family and think about you all often!!! Until we meet again - peace love and blessings for a new year ahead.

Slow season has begun...

So it's officially slow season at work and on the island. Every year has 2 high and 2 low seasons where you go from being super duper busy to sitting around doing a whole lotta nada. Ha. So yes...from now till December work is dead but gives me more time to fun dive for myself and what not which is nice. And...even do things such as teaching my dog to surf :)

Being sick sucks...

Fever w hot/cold sweats for 3 days...

Sore throat that ended up being strept...

Not able to eat - barely even soup...

Doctor visit and antibiotics for 7 days...

No sun, diving, alcohol for those 7 days (totaling about 2 weeks before meds)...

Yup...this past week wasn't fun at all!

Don't get sick when you live in a tropical climate during the hottest month of the year...doesn't make life very pleasant!

I'm ready to dive again - or something!

That's life - it goes on.

At least I'm recovering now and am out of bed :)

The beauty of the Caribbean

Just got back from one of the best weekends yet living in paradise. There's a little set of islands and keys between Roatan and the Honduras mainland called Cayos Cochinos. They're very very remote and used mainly for research. I had the pleasure of going along with a charter JJ had on their boat Friday to spend a day boating, fishing and just relaxing. It's such an amazing place and just great to get away from Roatan the day. Took some dive tanks and did a dive with a friend as well too which was incredible. The reef there is sooo healthy and beautiful. Really reminds me why I've chosen the path I have.

After our boat trip Friday JJ and Greg had a lil cookout and game night at their place, then they went fishing Saturday adn caught a Mahi so we enjoyed some delicious fresh fish that evening and then got to go with them on another charter back to Cayos on Sunday. This trip got to bring Nalu along with me on her first big boating trip which was awesome. 

So the weekend was amazing. So refreshing to take a few days off and relax, go somewhere new, and spend time with the boy while he was "working." :)

Livin the good life...

So I decided it's time to get back to blogging. I need a place to share and just write. So here it goes...all the updates...

So since the last blog I did do my Instructor course, passed the exam and am now managing a dive shop and instructing 6 days a week. It's a great job - exhausting at times - but who can complain about getting paid to dive and play in the beauty of the ocean daily? Ha. 

While I was on Utila for the exam I just so happened to run into a fella that I recognized from Roatan, said hello, hung out back on our island and as you can guess...has now developed into more. He's an incredible person with a great heart! Grew up in Alaska and is now living here helping run a sport fishing/dive charter boat. Those of you who are reading this probably know me well and are shocked to read this, but I've put my stubbornness aside for once and am giving the whole "dating" thing a try. lol. So far Im very happy I have. 

I've also brought home and adorable little puppy who keeps me very active! Her name is Nalu (Hawaiian for Ocean Wave). She's about 9 weeks old now (got her at 4 weeks) and she's growing at an exponential rate! lol. She's  a lil ball of joy and so much fun to have around. 

Reading this you can probably guess I'm sticking around Honduras for the long run. I haven't felt this at home in years. I miss many of the beautiful faces of my friends in the states but just can't see myself there again soon. I have a life here now - it's not just an adventure anymore. I have my hard times here just as I would anywhere else - and sometimes I wonder if I'm ready to settle in one place, but I'm only 23 and have already done so much yet still have so much time in life to go elsewhere - so yea, for now I settle. I'm tired of running from place to place leaving loved ones behind. And I'm happy to be by my family again. 

My amazingly beautiful friends Jessica and Ryan are getting married Nov.1 and am honored to be a bridesmaid, so I'll be heading back to FL in a few months for 2 weeks. I'm so happy for them! It's been hard not being there for pre-wed fun, but I can't wait to come home and see her and everyone else! I'm planning to fly back the week before the wedding to stay with her and then will spend the week after visiting others. It will be a great to be back in the states after spending 8 months on a small island. 

So that's life for now...I promise to continue posting this time :) 

Peace n love to all!

Home is where the heart is...

After a month of no updates (thanks to high quality internet speeds and connections...ha) I figured it was time for an update which I'll try to keep brief. 

So much has happened this last month! We were moved into a new house which didnt have running water for 4 days (and still periodically don't, but thats the joys of living here), I finished my Divemaster training, have been getting paid to dive and see sharks and octopus and other amazing creatures, and have made some decisions about what to do next. 

So yea...the next thing. For once I finally feel like I can call somewhere home. Not saying it will be home forever by any means, but for the time being I can't see myself living anywhere else. I miss many from the states more than one can imagine but here I have found great people and a love for what I am doing. So that leads to my next decision...I have decided to go ahead and do my Instructor certification next. The thing here is that youre more hireable as an Instructor (and make better money) than if I just continue as a DM...and...since I've decided I want to stay here for a while it's the smart way to go. I'm doing some freelance work for now and will take the 10 day course in June here and then go to Utila (another island) for a 2 day exam and hope I pass! :)

I'm moving into an amazing home tomorrow and one of my current 10 roomies will move in with me this weekend. I can't wait! As much as I have really enjoyed meeting everyone that has moved in and out of the house I'm in now 1o people can be a lot to live with!!!

So yea...that's for a quick little update for those of you who may have been wondering if I were planning to come back. I'll try to post some new pics soon...promise! Man...life's good! 

Peace n love.