Jack and Cate Update -- February, 2009

Monday, February 9, 2009

Rather than their usual episode of [Mythbusters](http://www.discovery.com/mythbusters), [Top Gear](http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/266/index.jsp), or [Dog Whisperer](http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/dogwhisperer/) after showers, Cate settled down with a good book. How refreshingly civilized.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Now she's on to me and my camera. At the start of the school-year, we (finally? belatedly?) switched to daily showers. Unless one of us momentarily loses our strength of will, of course.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Fully aware that I'm taking photographs, she is permitted one jack-o-lantern-style goofy expression.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Meanwhile, Jack clings desperately to consciousness. We've always said we two kids: one who eats and one who sleeps. I'll let you decide which is which.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Lisa asked Jack if he wanted to get his haircut today. In his best I'm-talking-to-a-dim-bulb voice, he replied: "Uhhh... *yeaahh*" As they entered the barbershop, he surprised her again by saying he wanted "spiky hair." He was shorn of four inches of hair, and everyone is saying he looks much older.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Todd (photographer) and Heather (on the right) McBride invited the Grovers and us on a Bahamian vacation, and (after Lisa's significant financial lobbying) we happily accepted. We flew through Miami and arrived in [Georgetown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Town,_Bahamas), Exuma, in the middle of the afternoon. By 7:30 AM, we were through security for our 9:00 AM flight from [DFW](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas-Fort_Worth_International_Airport). As we had breakfast, there was a plane full of servicemen that arrived from outside the country, and everyone clapped and cheered for 15 minutes as it unloaded.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

When we arrived at the airport, Robert Thompson (our guide and overall looker-afterer for the week) met us along with his brother Andrew and another taxi. He justifiably teased us that we had a lot of luggage. Robert took the guys to the liquor store (first things first) and then the grocery store so we could stock-up on supplies.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Vicky and Mark Grover were the third couple on the trip -- there was supposed to be a fourth couple from their church, but they decided not to come at the last moment. After running our errands and unpacking our things, Robert took us to [Splash](http://wikimapia.org/#lat=23.5187322&lon=-75.7867652&z=18amp;&l=0&m=a&v=2) at the [Palm Bay Beach Club](http://www.palmbaybeachclub.com/) just a couple of miles down the coast from our house.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Grovers' son, Matthew, sent Wally Elephant on the trip and insisted he be included in vacation photographs. I'm not sure this is what he had in mind. While Wally got soused, we ordered a couple of buckets of [Kalik](http://www.bahamasgateway.com/kalik_beer.htm) and a table full of seafood: fried grouper, conch fritters, crab burgers, etc. We were in bed by 9.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

On Sunday, Robert picked us up for an early morning start. He took us on his boat for the day. I think the waterproof dive "wallet" hanging from a string a really working for me. It tells everyone I'm a tourist *and* clearly demonstrates I've abandoned my younger-middle-aged hopes of ever looking cool.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The aforementioned [Robert Thompson](mailto:robertsislandadventures@msn.com) of Robert's Island Adventures (be sure to tell him we sent you).

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Heather poses, people laugh. It'll be a recurring theme.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

She's a beach girl, but she agrees to annual ski vacations. This adults-only trip was just a small thank-you for putting up with me so many years in the snow. I hope we do it again soon!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Richard took us to [Chat 'n Chill](http://www.chatnchill.com/) where the customers apparently misplace a lot of clothes. They could really use a lost-and-found.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Chat 'n Chill is on [Stocking Island](http://wikimapia.org/#lat=23.518742&lon=-75.7556248amp;&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2&search=chat%20chill), just a couple of miles (by sea) from the house.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

For our first beach-excursion drinks, I'm sure it says *something* that both Lisa and I eschewed beers in favor of sodas. I just not sure *what* it says.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The boats coming to the Chat 'n Chill simply pulled onto the beach and set anchor.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

There was just one hammock -- well played, McBride. Well played. In addition to the hammock, they had several crude swings hanging from the trees. We watched some kids swinging off a picnic table, and Heather finally decided to give one a whirl too.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Of all the giant piles of conch shells I've encountered, this was the giantest.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

This explains the conch shell pile -- they feed them to the sting rays which swim right to the shore. There were a couple of them, and they kept circling near us waiting to be fed. We could touch them as they swam past.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Despite the number of boats, it wasn't very crowded at the Chat 'n Chill. Robert's boat is the white one on the left.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The whole gang on the beach with the sea breezes blowing, the sea lapping at our feet, and the smell of a giant conch shell pile wafting through the air.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

After lunch, we loaded up the boat and drove a short distance to do a little snorkeling. Lisa had the foresight to bring a roadie.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The boys and Vicky snorkeled in about twenty feet of water. It was at the entrance to a long tunnel that runs under the island and out to sea. Without scuba gear, we couldn't see very far into the tunnel and we couldn't get inside. With scuba gear, on the other hand, I would've been too chicken to go much further.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

We would see a lot of grouper on our dives.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

I wore my "shorty" wetsuit, and I was glad to have it. The water was 73°, and I quickly chilled if I wasn't swimming vigorously.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Closely cropped, this photo becomes less "hang loose" and more "[Dr. Evil](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/16/Drevil_million_dollars.jpg)."

Sunday, February 22, 2009

This sponge was growing on the sea wall just a few feet below the surface.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Todd found this sea cucumber, and I take solace knowing that its mother thinks it's beautiful. Robert called it "the sea's squirt gun." If you take them out of water and squeeze them, they will (allegedly, your honor) pee a fair distance.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

After a solid thirty minutes of snorkeling, we decided we had earned another round at the Chat 'n Chill.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Drink run: complete. I always play to my strengths. Greg Nelson, cabana boy.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

This is back at our beach that evening -- the sun is setting behind the camera.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Chef Grover prepared a fantastic steak dinner, and we were ready to call it an early night. Some people called it earlier than others.

Monday, February 23, 2009

We were back on the water by 9:30 Monday morning, but this time we were in Robin and Bill Riddle's boat. While en route to our dive site, we took a few photos as the sea air blasted through our hair.

Monday, February 23, 2009

She's like this all the time. Seriously.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Vicky and Mark Grover. Without them, we may not have eaten all week.

Monday, February 23, 2009

She too plays to her strengths. Lisa Nelson, sunbather.

Monday, February 23, 2009

On our ride to the dive site, we passed several (apparently deserted) islands complete with hidden beaches. There's nothing better.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Heather and Todd McBride. They kept us laughing the whole trip.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Heather too plays to her strengths...

Monday, February 23, 2009

Heather McBride, incorrigible fashion model.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Although we were both certified at the same time in 2006, Mark has now done more than fifty dives (about double what I've done). And he's got the doo-rag to prove it.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Do you think I'm anxious to go? In addition to the "shorty", I wore a pair of bibs to cover my legs and provide a double layer for my torso. Even so, I would get chilly by the end of each dive.

Monday, February 23, 2009

I'm playing to the camera at the exact moment I should've been checking my equipment. I descended about ten feet before realizing it was really difficult to pull air through my regulator. I had to surface, and Mark and I did a little investigating. For the first dive, I used the backup regulator, but everything seemed fine during our subsequent dives.

Monday, February 23, 2009

And here's the reciprocal photograph from the water.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Kickin' it pigeon-toed style!

Monday, February 23, 2009

An Angel fish.

Monday, February 23, 2009

A [Lion fish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_fish). All the spines are poisonous, so we admired them from a few feet away.

Monday, February 23, 2009

A [Squirrelfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrelfish). When we went diving in Grand Cayman, these fish seemed to be everywhere, but we didn't see as many in the Bahamas.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Again with the Lion fish.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Robert was our guide and underwater hunter. I would've done it, but I seem to have misplaced my speargun.

Monday, February 23, 2009

So I chose to simply watch Robert work instead. I was constantly ready to answer any questions he might have, but he never had the courtesy to ask.

Monday, February 23, 2009

On this dive, Robert got a [Rockfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rockford_Files) and a Grouper. We'd be seeing them later that evening.

Monday, February 23, 2009

I graciously appraised Robert's handiwork.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Does this make my butt look big? No?!? I need more wetsuit.

Monday, February 23, 2009

A [Trumpetfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpet_Fish). We saw several during our four dives.

Monday, February 23, 2009

A [Triggerfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triggerfish).

Monday, February 23, 2009

This amorphous blob is actually a six-foot [Blacktip Shark](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacktip_shark). You can tell because the blob seems especially menacing. Trust me. He was obviously interested in the potential meal Robert had speared during our dive.

Monday, February 23, 2009

By the end of our first dive, the women were well and truly seasick. Robert took us to a shallow reef for some snorkeling, and everyone quickly recovered once in the water. Topside, Robert had just finished telling a story of a small fish with razor-sharp teeth that had taken a chunk out of his buddy's arm. As soon as I jumped in, I was face-to-face with this fish and its needlenose.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Vicky through some pieces of her granola bar into the water, and it immediately caught the attention of several [Sergeant Major fish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abudefduf_saxatilis).

Monday, February 23, 2009

More Sergeant Major fish...

Monday, February 23, 2009

Brain coral and a sea fan.

Monday, February 23, 2009

This may be a [Blue Angelfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holacanthus_bermudensis), but what do I know? I'm from Dallas.

Monday, February 23, 2009

This is a splendid example of underwater stuff.

Monday, February 23, 2009

More underwater stuff.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Yet more underwater stuff, but these swim around.

Monday, February 23, 2009

This must be some sort of sponge, but I just think it looks cool.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Another Angel fish and another Grouper.

Monday, February 23, 2009

This is a fish. Another damn fish.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Yet again with the Lion fish.

Monday, February 23, 2009

A Trumpetfish and an Angel fish.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Another sea fan? To be honest, I'm not even that fond of plants on land, so it's hard to get excited about them underwater. Unless they have poisonous spines. Or shoot explosive seeds at passing fish. That would be pretty cool.

Monday, February 23, 2009

On our second dive, Robert got another Rockfish, but he couldn't retrieve the fish and the spear. To reach further under the coral, he removed his [BCD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoyancy_compensator_(diving)) and scuba tank, but he succeeded only in dropping his speargun (which floated to the surface). Ignoring a safety stop (he teased us for "playing on the anchor line" for three minutes each dive), he swam to the surface, recovered the speargun, and returned to reclaim the Rockfish.

Monday, February 23, 2009

During Robert's brief ascent/decent, Mark took responsibility for the second spear. We feared and respected him. Even more so.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Robert 1. Rockfish 0.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Robert called these Yellowtail, but I don't think you'll be making sushi out of them anytime soon. Mmmmm... sushi.

Monday, February 23, 2009

At about fifty feet (this was our shallow dive), we followed a trench in the rock and coral where a lot of fish were hiding.

Monday, February 23, 2009

A [Queen Triggerfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_triggerfish).

Monday, February 23, 2009

Just chillin'. And a little bit of illin'.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Mark Grover, master diver.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Mark Grover, master chef.

Monday, February 23, 2009

The fruits (actually, the fish) of Robert's labor. Robert brought his sixteen year-old son, William, with us today -- he drove the boat and remained topside while we were diving. Surely exaggerating, he said his boy could drive the boat in the open ocean better than he could.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

We had decided to make Tuesday a quiet day at the house, and the weather cooperated. Strong winds whipped up rough seas that were even visible from Hooper's Bay.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A sandy sidewalk leads from the house to the beach on the right.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Hungry packs of wild dogs roam the beaches desperately searching for their next meal. Or they would if I had an interesting story to accompany this beach scene near the house.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Lisa Nelson in her natural habitat: a Caribbean island with lots of sun and a big smile. We had lunch at the [Peace & Plenty](http://wikimapia.org/#lat=23.5071135&lon=-75.7697278&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2&search=peace%20plenty) before the girls went to the [Four Seasons](http://www.fourseasons.com/greatexuma/photos_and_videos/#image-greatexuma-resort-EXU_138) for an afternoon at the spa.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The Peace & Plenty. The pool. The sea. The sun. The drowsy retiree.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

After an afternoon at the [spa](http://www.fourseasons.com/greatexuma/spa.html), the girls were relaxed, refreshed, and ready to tolerate the boys again.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

After collecting the women at the spa, we then retired to the Four Seasons' [Il Cielo](http://www.fourseasons.com/greatexuma/dining/il_cielo.html) for an evening of fine dining. They eventually decided to let Lisa and me join them.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

I can hear what you're thinking, and I completely agree. I married up.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Thursday morning, and we were back on the sea.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Robert took us to Starfish Beach on Stocking Island. It wasn't too far away from the Chat 'n Chill, but we had the entire beach to ourselves for a private picnic. Perhaps not surprisingly, we found starfish in the water just off Starfish Beach.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

That's Robert under the umbrella. I've now submitted my application to be his official apprentice.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

If it's a boat and it's the Caribbean, it must be [backflips into the sea](http://www.nelsongang.com/kids/2006/09/).

Thursday, February 26, 2009

It's been nearly three years, and he's maintained his form. Awesome.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Some artists work with marble. Some artists work with paint. Lisa works with sand, sun, and beer. A masterpiece.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Pull up your boat to your private beach. Highly recommended.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

We decided we wanted to go on a [Sand Dollar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_dollar) hunt, so Robert took us to a huge sandbar just after low tide.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Everybody loves Lisa. Everybody loves Heather. They get along swimmingly, or at least wadingly. Ha! You see what I did right there?!? Classic...

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Tres amigas.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Robert told us we each had to find a Sand Dollar before we'd be allowed back on the boat. We found several, however, the big one was considered (in his professional judgment) too "living."

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Todd McBride: expert tracker, lethal predator, Sand Dollar hunter.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

OK, McBride, you can exhale...

Thursday, February 26, 2009

In Dallas, Lisa always seems to be stuck with my sunglasses, an extra camera lens, or the external flash in her purse. Even on vacation, dressed in swimming suits, she somehow ends up carrying my gear. Ladies and gentlemen, that's love.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

While prowling the beaches, the worlds most dedicated Sand Dollar hunters all wear wetsuits. Seriously. Look it up.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Our home for the week -- the McBrides won it for a week's vacation in their school auction last Spring. The owners (permanent renters, actually) were practically done constructing their new house on the island when we visited, but they kept this house for an extra few months just so we could have it for the week.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

This flower was growing next to the sandy path leading to the beach.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

This one was actually growing at the edge of the beach. I include these photos simply to demonstrate that I'm sensitive as all get out.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Sunset from our beach.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Our "sidewalk" view of Hooper's Bay. Oh how I wish I was there now instead of writing these inane comments for you people. No offense.

Friday, February 27, 2009

On our last full day in the Bahamas, the guys went for another two dives. Even on the leeward side of Stocking Island, wind was creating a significant chop, so the girls decided not to go. We dropped Heather and Lisa on our deserted beach along with some chairs, an umbrellas and a cooler while we went out to sea. On the open water, the waves were often ten feet from crest to trough, and you had to pay attention and hang on to stay safe (if not dry). Robert's friend and fellow captain, Barry, joined us and remained circling topside while we dived since it was too rough to set an anchor. Barry was an absolute character, but I must say his dancing skills need a little work. John Hillen (proud father of [Jack Hillen](http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=73773)) also joined us -- he's a friend of Robert's from [Minnetonka, Minnesota](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnetonka). Unfortunately, John had one gin and tonic too many the night before and spent most of the time "chumming the water."

Friday, February 27, 2009

Robert was a killin' machine on our two dives. In two dives, he got eight lobsters, half-a-dozen conch, and two grouper (one pictured). With her hands full, Todd thought it would be a good idea to put a "bug" on her head too. I love Lisa's reaction in the background.

Friday, February 27, 2009

A shell that has yet to be de-conched. If the photo looks a little odd, it was because [my camera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_30d) was nearly destroyed on our diving excursion. Although it was securely stowed in my camera bag, I neglected to put it in a water-tight container like one of the onboard coolers. By the end of our two dives, the inside of the bag was completely soaked from all the water coming over the sides. Luckily, it was back to normal after a few days.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Todd McBride stalks his cooler prey.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Judging by the women, he just not that intimidating.

Friday, February 27, 2009

After a fried conch appetizer, we enjoyed a little surf and turf dinner. Robert made it clear that we could eat all the seafood he'd caught as long as he had plenty of our Texas steak.