Florida Sea Base News

FIRST AND FOREMOST, TODAY IS A DAY TO HONOR ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FREEDOMS FROM THOSE WHO WISH US HARM.  Many of them are on my mind and in my prayers daily.  Our family plot has graves of soldiers since the Republic of Texas and Civil War.  For those of you who are serving or have served and survived, thank you.

Sunday was opening day of the 2012 summer season at the Florida Sea Base.  Despite the fact that 5 of the 7 scuba crews arrived post dinner (13:00/1:00pm is the recommended check-in time), everything went very well for the first day.  Kudos to the staff, especially Scuba Commissioner Laura Kuras and Sailing Commissioner Stephanie Mansburger.

I remember visiting my Aunt Maggie Mae (great-aunt actually) in the 60s and 70s.  Despite the fact that she lived within the city limits of jasper, Texas, she lived on a dirt road, had an out-house in the back yard instead of an indoor toilet, and raised chickens in the yard.  The chickens were raised to sell the eggs and poultry.  To have eggs you need roosters.  Some roosters are M-E-A-N mean.  Anyway, the preferred method for dispatching the chickens was to snatch them by the head, spin them around quickly and their head would pop off in your hand.  The bodies would hit the ground and the headless chickens would run about the yard.  Hence the phrase, “running around like a chicken with its head cut off”.  That pretty much described my Sunday.

Tropical Storm Beryl continues on its roller coaster path, keeping a safe distance from the Florida Sea Base and turning northeast soon.

Click to enlarge.

Our local forecast is calling for 30% chance of rain, highs near 90, lows near 78 and winds near 10 knots for the next several days.

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape