Third time better be the charm

[rmorris_14]

Warning longish post not reef related.
I am getting to the age where I have determined I have already lived longer then the time I have left to live. Time to actually start living. That was part of what Fiji was about. Testing my limits seeing how far I could push myself and I really surprised myself tbh. 96 foot dive the deepest I have ever gone. That along with my 100th dive and getting Night/Limited viz certified were the highlights. Now it's time to live out a dream. When I graduated high school the goal was to never be stuck in a grey cube or behind a desk. Failed. I wanted to be the female version of Steve Irwin. Wolves were being re introduced into Yellowstone and that was what I wanted to do. As a job. For the rest of my life. I got the degree and then realized that I couldn't do it. It wasn't paying enough to pay the bills. I couldn't live on that and I didn't have any help. I couldn't go the next step in my education (masters) as there was no $ and I barely got the bachelor's as it was. So I gave up on the dream.
Tomorrow I am booking a trip for my 47th birthday to spend a week in Yellowstone tracking down wolves. I am finally going to catch that dream and I am so happy. It only took 23 years but I am going to make it happen.
Don't wait to live your life. You never know how long you have. It may be over sooner then you think. I am not going to regret a second of it.

Ps. It's in January so any recommendations on good cold weather clothing is welcome and appreciated.

I love this… you go girl!!!

 

[tbrown]

Awesome trip!
clothes:
boot gators like:
wool socks, long underwear, under armor or other brand thermal base layers. Layers are your friends, coat with a hood, and a hat, good UV blocking sunglasses or ski goggles. ski goggles with protect against wind better.

True! Waterproof gaiters will be super helpful. Also insulated waterproof boots are a great idea

 

[exnisstech]

Trust me I get it. I am trying to make myself do things which I know will make me "deal with it". We went grocery shopping at 11 instead of 9 this morning and it was torture. The man is supportive but sometimes doesn't get it. I have found that my CBD supplement is very helpful with that flight reaction I get.

I prefer THC over CBD and it does help but then my Gal has to drive if we go anywhere and she says I talk to much

 

[tbrown]

I prefer THC over CBD and it does help but then my Gal has to drive if we go anywhere and she says I talk to much

And those Cheetos are messy?

 

[tbrown]

 

[exnisstech]

And those Cheetos are messy?

I think I put on 20lbs since I started smoking again (quit 41 years ago) Ice cream is my thing. I don't even put it in a bowl once I figured out if I eat out of the carton my Gal gets mad and won't eat any so I get it all. She gripes and asks why I won't put it in a bowl. I tell her we don't have any bowls big enough

 

[907_Reefer]

Warning longish post not reef related.
I am getting to the age where I have determined I have already lived longer then the time I have left to live. Time to actually start living. That was part of what Fiji was about. Testing my limits seeing how far I could push myself and I really surprised myself tbh. 96 foot dive the deepest I have ever gone. That along with my 100th dive and getting Night/Limited viz certified were the highlights. Now it's time to live out a dream. When I graduated high school the goal was to never be stuck in a grey cube or behind a desk. Failed. I wanted to be the female version of Steve Irwin. Wolves were being re introduced into Yellowstone and that was what I wanted to do. As a job. For the rest of my life. I got the degree and then realized that I couldn't do it. It wasn't paying enough to pay the bills. I couldn't live on that and I didn't have any help. I couldn't go the next step in my education (masters) as there was no $ and I barely got the bachelor's as it was. So I gave up on the dream.
Tomorrow I am booking a trip for my 47th birthday to spend a week in Yellowstone tracking down wolves. I am finally going to catch that dream and I am so happy. It only took 23 years but I am going to make it happen.
Don't wait to live your life. You never know how long you have. It may be over sooner then you think. I am not going to regret a second of it.

Ps. It's in January so any recommendations on good cold weather clothing is welcome and appreciated.

H*ll yes, this is beautiful!

+1 layers layers layers. Insulated waterproof clothing, shades/goggles, few pairs of good winter gloves, hats, neck/face protection (scarf, gator), and having some hand and toe warmer packs can come in handy.

Most of my winter clothing is insulated Carhartt, waterproof Klim, Baffins for snowmachine/plowing/snow boots. Love my Baffins.

I've never used Muck boots but in summer I basically live in Xtra Tuff rubber boots, but they don't insulate for crap in winter.

For extreme cold here people swear by Bunny Boots, but we like to stay in Southern "tropical" Alaska where it's not below 0 F for too long typically..

Bunny boots - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Stang67]

Ordered some Columbia Bugaboots and snow pants. My brother snow camps in Oregon and he recommended the boots. Gators as well. And some weird named pants that were WAY to $$$$. Trip will be officially booked tonight. Got enough airline miles for the flight to be free. Prime day is coming so I will get most of the stuff I need then.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

That will be an amazing trip! Yes, I agree life is too short and you never know. Go for it!! We loved Yellowstone, early June trip though. We want to go back again sometime. One of our daughters bucket lists items was to see wolves in the wild. (Wolf is her spirit animal) We were so fortunate and had a once in a lifetime experience to see two wolves along with a black bear feeding /sharing on a buffalo carcass. We stayed there for a couple hours watching before they moved on. First one would eat , then the other. Not sure if it was the alpha that was eating first or if the other one was just on guard and taking turns eating, but was amazing to see!! Hope you actually get to see wolves!! I think winter is a better chance to see them!
We took this video from someone else videoing with a big zoom lens

 

[MrsBugmaster]

And Happy Birthday

 

[Stang67]

And Happy Birthday

Not till January when I go but thanks in advance!!! Love the video!

 

[Stang67]

H*ll yes, this is beautiful!

+1 layers layers layers. Insulated waterproof clothing, shades/goggles, few pairs of good winter gloves, hats, neck/face protection (scarf, gator), and having some hand and toe warmer packs can come in handy.

Most of my winter clothing is insulated Carhartt, waterproof Klim, Baffins for snowmachine/plowing/snow boots. Love my Baffins.

I've never used Muck boots but in summer I basically live in Xtra Tuff rubber boots, but they don't insulate for crap in winter.

For extreme cold here people swear by Bunny Boots, but we like to stay in Southern "tropical" Alaska where it's not below 0 F for too long typically..

Bunny boots - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Baffins were recommended by the op that's running the show. They look very nice.

 

[tbrown]

When I went to Yellowstone last year we got to see a small flock of wolves, a group of black bears, a grizzly bear, and a moose! We also saw a fox hunting in the snow.

You're going to have the best time.

 

[Stang67]

Checked the hives. Last time before winter. All 3 are buzzing and should have enough stores to make it through winter. The Karen hive was way better so hoping it was just a phase it was going through.

 

[tbrown]

Checked the hives. Last time before winter. All 3 are buzzing and should have enough stores to make it through winter. The Karen hive was way better so hoping it was just a phase it was going through.

Poor Karen.

 

[Stang67]

Thinking Thunderdome aka the office tank needs a new contestant. The clown and damsel aka The Black Menace and Satan have both survived and are happy. @StatelineReefer how often do you feed Murderbug and would one be OK when I go on vacations?

 

[StatelineReefer]

Thinking Thunderdome aka the office tank needs a new contestant. The clown and damsel aka The Black Menace and Satan have both survived and are happy. @StatelineReefer how often do you feed Murderbug and would one be OK when I go on vacations?

I drop 10 blue leg hermits in her aquarium every week or so. When she's hungry, she'll pop out like the Xenomorph in Alien and drag one into her den...

 

[Stang67]

I drop 10 blue leg hermits in her aquarium every week or so. When she's hungry, she'll pop out like the Xenomorph in Alien and drag one into her den...

Sounds like I have a project for this weekend. I have been researching and the 40g aio should be good. I just have to pull the rock, add that extra bag of sand I have, bury some pvc tunnels, and rescape. I have some rock rubble I can smash up and add in as well.
Then see if TBA would maybe just send me the one they have and not the sand and rock.

 

[StatelineReefer]

Sounds like I have a project for this weekend. I have been researching and the 40g aio should be good. I just have to pull the rock, add that extra bag of sand I have, bury some pvc tunnels, and rescape. I have some rock rubble I can smash up and add in as well.
Then see if TBA would maybe just send me the one they have and not the sand and rock.

They would... I think... That one's nice too...

Ask them!

 

[StatelineReefer]

I mean, the most expensive part is the shipping anyways.