The water was perfect with only a hint of rippling on the surface.

When we emerged 32 minutes later, we pulled our fins off and made our way back to the van. Not a single word was said (though that might have been more to do with fatigue than not wanting to spoil the moment).

We had just completed out one hundredth dive. It was an important milestone. We couldn’t enter the instructor exam next week without it.

It was also cool to finish this milestone where and with whom I started. Back in January, I was at 41 dives and creeping along at a nudibranch’s pace (a nudibranch is an underwater slug. Learn to dive already friends!). Tanya was looking for a dive buddy and asked me (actually, I distinctly recall the message going something like “Dave, we’re diving sunday”. Being that it came from nowhere, I could only reply with “Okay”).

After Tanya and I went diving, the dives just sort of piled on. Which is why I call it the start. Almost 2 years to get to 40… 10 months to get to 100. Thank you again, Tanya!

I should end the story there, but after the dives we raced back to Langley to do a snorkel swim assessment in the pool and now my knees are on fire. I really need to learn not to push my limits, but I get the next 4 days to rest before the instructor exam, so it should be okay.

I failed my one point. Half way through the exam, my instructor told us to make corrections to the exam. I did. Some of them were to switch one answer for another—answer ‘a’ becomes answer ‘b’ and vise versa.

Most of those I got wrong simply by not taking a second look at which bubble I should be filling in. A stupid mistake that I can accept and fix for the real tests.

The one that burns my marshmellows though, is a question that I technically got right, but they made changes to the selectable answers. My answer didn’t match any of the available “possibilities”.

So I selected the closest one.

And got it wrong.

Upon review, it was found that the reason I got it wrong was because I was using a different method.

I used the method the exam requested.

And got it wrong.

If I get something wrong because I just plain shit the bed, fine… I can accept that. But don’t you dare tell me I was wrong because I should have been using a calculator instead of doing the math with pencil and paper.

… especially when it explicitly said to use pencil and paper.

I don’t understand what people are missing about this commercial.

Maybe it’s too subtle.

Bill Gates is Microsoft. According to Jerry, Bill Gates is a 10. Therefor, Microsoft is a 10!

Jerry Seinfeld’s humor usually centers around a single concept that he pushes to absolutes. The rest of the commercial builds and sets up this concept.

Watch it again now that you know.

I had never seen it.

So, on a whim, I rented it. (I know. I know. Watching a chick flick by myself. How much of a loser am I?)

I have to say, seeing Jack Black in a more (but not too) serious role was interesting. He did the part well.

And over all, not an entirely bad film (for a chick flick).

Now I’m going to go hang my head in shame.

My only goal is to get you to have as many ascents as descents.

And maybe have a few good times in between the descents and ascents.

And then there’s the whole “Diving Safe” thing while having a few good times in between the descents and ascents.

I will try my best to make them all happen.

Every time I’ve looked at it for the past few months, I’ve wanted to update the look (and maybe the CMS too… haven’t decided yet). Just haven’t made time.

Expect it to change some time in the next while.

It doesn’t matter anyway because I’m not selling my domain (at least not for anything less than $20,000USD. Make it $20,005 and I’ll add my mum). I love Rogue Monk and I can’t imagine it being anything other than my personal soap box.

I hope you find another domain that suits your needs.

(I wouldn’t really sell my mum. She’s the best mother I have.)

Just yesterday, I noticed that the soap dispenser in the washroom is called “Alibi”.

Ignoring my obvious inattentiveness, this is one of the best names for soap I can think of.

(with a european accent…)
“Alibi. Wash those bloody hands clean.”
“Alibi. As sweet smelling as the lies you’ll tell.”
“Alibi. For a truly guilt-free clean.”

I use a timer on my computer to remind me to drink water ever 30 minutes.

Like most people I get into a groove and forget trivial things. Food, water… I’ve even held my bladder for as long as possible because I wanted to get my current thoughts out of my head.

If you don’t have a timer and are on a mac, I highly recommend Flextime.

It costs a bit, but it’s kept me from dry-baking a few boiling pots.

I used to wonder because last night I spent the better part of 8 hours writing some code that I only moderately understand.

Unlike them, I did occasionally get up to get a drink and use the washroom, but before I knew it, it was 5 AM.

And a few short hours later, here I am at work.