I've recently enrolled in a SCUBA certification course. Last night, I finished my pool skills and took my final written exam. The next thing to do is an ocean dive, which is something I'll do in the next few weeks before the water gets too cold. (Don't worry, I'll have a wet suit and my instructor has been doing this for over 20 years so he won't allow me to do anything dangerous.)

The logical question is why have I thrown down $500 for a SCUBA certification (and eventually a few hundred dollars in equipment) when I don't even have a boat? 

It all started when I ordered this fabulous silk designer dress on eBay. Normally completely out of my price range, I got it for $40. I figured if it didn't fit, I could have it altered.

The dress was even more beautiful in person but since I am not a size 8 Anne Klein dress form, it needed alterations to fit. Normally I attempt this sort of thing myself but the potential for disaster on silk made me decide that maybe I should call in an expert. And so my search began.

A Google search yielded some places in Bangor (an hour away) and a dry cleaner in Ellsworth (30 minutes away). I know that the dry cleaner subcontracts this kind of work out (I had something repaired there before) and it would take a few weeks turnaround to get it back. Was there no one in my entire county who could do this?

I checked the Yellow Pages. Nothing. I even tried to convince a friend to help me do it for money. She wasn't confident enough to attempt silk but did give me the number of a local sewing store. I called them (since their owner once told me she barely checks her email) and was given a phone number to Acadia Sewing.

So I have a business acquaintance who happens to have a sailboat. I've wanted to go on a boat all summer so a few weeks ago, I felt bold and messaged him on Facebook. I told him I'd wanted to go on a boat all summer and asked if he'd mind taking me sailing sometime. I offered to bring lunch and/or snacks and otherwise earn my keep.

He said sure and asked me when my next day off was.

One of my readers recently asked me why I haven't written about food lately. Good question.

Truth is, I've been eating like a confirmed bachelor. I've been eating lots of quick foods, skipping breakfast in favor of coffee, and once even caught myself eating a jumbo marshmallow while standing by the kitchen sink. What is going on here?

I love food, and I love to eat healthy but I got busy and fell off the wagon as of late. As a result, I've been cooking way less and foraging way more. Eating small amounts and exercising is keeping me trim but I am not liking this lifestyle. So not me!

It's definitely back on the eating-real-meals bandwagon for me and I couldn't think of a better way to get back into it than kale.

Lately, I've been going on some really long bike rides. Maybe not long for a cyclist but definitely long for the average person, which is what I consider myself, athleticwise anyway.
 
I've been training for a 50 mile 'race' I'll be doing this coming Sunday. The Tour de la Vallée is held every year in my hometown and others in the Saint John Valley to raise money for the Guy Paradis Memorial Cancer Fund.

Something I've started doing in the last month has been really helpful, and hasn't cost me a cent.

Every night around 9 pm, I go for a walk.

Sometimes I stop by a friend's house and see if she wants to go with me, sometimes I go by myself. I may change out of my work clothes or check my email first but most every night, even when I'm tired, Sadie and I take a walk downtown.

The following is a timeline of my Aetna insurance claim, which began on March 31 and concluded today. What a pain! Guess that's what I get for trying to make a journey towards better mental health...

If I was actually crazy, I could have had the energy to deal with my insurance company. Here's my saga, and why you need to advocate for yourself at all times.