Home is where the heart is
Archive for July, 2005
How to be a diver in a week?
02489 days
by xianggong
in Diver's log
- Monday – Overheard that my friend have sign-up for the open water course with another friend who is dive instructor. They have completed the theory test last weekend. I wanted to dive long time ago but could not find chance to do it. I don’t need to hestate and make up my mind to go for it. I called the instructor to indicate my intention, there is still possible to do it.
- Tuesday - Apply leave to go on theory test and pool session. My boss not really want to let me go. I have to ensure that I’ll handle all the stuff before I leave. After work I go to look for my friend who have completed theory test, she hand over the open water book and VCD to me. She is kind enough to go through the dive plan calculation. Learn the technique of using RPT table. I left the book aside after coming home.
- Wednesday - Talked to my boss again regarding leave for Thursday and Friday. He seams like convince to allow me to take a break. Completed the shipment for the new customer and went to town to buy stuff for the diving trip. Start the reading and VCD after reached home. I only managed to complete first 2 chapters and fall in sleep during VCD#3.
- Thursday – Woke up early in the complete to watch the VCD#3 again. Speed up the reading book to chapter 3. Only worked for half day but still need to handle request to demostrate that the system solution is working as I claimed. Still get into my boss’s office to give him briefing. On the way back to my home town. I continue the readings of chapter 3,4,5 and knowledge review in the car. In the evening start the knowledge review with instructor and completed quiz and exam with score of 90%. Choose the equipments for the pool session.
- Friday – Started the pool session a bit late in the morning. We have learned many useful skill under water. Unfortunately we did not complete all the skills for confine water. After shower in my friend’s home. We started the journey to the boat. We have to drive 6 hours to reached jetty, on the way I manage to handle 2 calls for support from my office. Finally board the dive boat around 2pm.
- Saturday – Started the open water dive in the morning. After the breifing by instructor and start to jump in the sea. However due to my nerves and holding on the breath, as a results I fail to descent to where we should do the underwater skills. At the second dive site, with the help of string attach to the bottom of the sea, we managed to descent successfully to the fasinating under water world. I follow my intructor closer to get to see all kind of colorful corals and aquatic life. After this dive, I said to myself that it already worth all efforts after seeing the under water. Third dive is the dive focus on the open water skills, we get to experience the surge at the bottom of the see to complete mask clearing, free flow regulator and buouancy control. Follow by the next dive at evening time, the light is low and visibility is bad. Experience the descent like free fall together with buddy. Instructor manage to get us to pump in low presure air to BCD. The most exciting is yet to come at the night dive. My instructor choose not to go and pass his torch light to me. He give me simple briefing on the night dive. I still not knowing what to expect in the night dive. At first I still have difficulty to descent successful. I have to ascent back and make up my mind to ascent to the group to light at the bottom. Finally I make it to the bottom and meet up with the group. The first stop at the parrot fish hideout under a coral. The fish is sleeping very deep and allow use to take very close look. After we left the parrot fish, I noticed my torch light is out of order..! I still stay very calm and not panic at all, I still breath normally and control my buoyancy perfectly to stay close to the people with bigger light. I have change my buddy and at the same time take a very close look at the night coral and crabs. At one point, everyone switch of the torch light and use hand to wave in the water and amzingly I notice all the small phatom actully light up in the dark. Very interesting experience. I don’t have any fear at all, until I noticed my air level is below red. I ignore the safety stop rules and ascent with another instructor’s alternate air supply. This day is end with very unique and exciting dive. Later the boat is on dock at Tioman Island, we spent 1 hour to do shopping and photo taking on the land.
- Sunday – We started the last day early in the morning for the first dive at 7am. In this dive we managed to complete most of the under water skill required as the water is very calm in the morning. Later the boat started to set off to the dive site with wreck diving. However we still have skill to complete hence we have to stay and complete the remaining skills. And finally we are certify as open water diver after the CESA.. yeah… yes.. I was so exciting for this accomplishment. The next dive is for the deep dive, my instructor agree to be my buddy. We were to slow to catch up with the group, mainly due to strong current at shallow water that carry us away from the dive site. I experience the feel of lost in the water where you not able to identify the way as all you see in the surounding is the same. My instructor buddy using his compass to navigate to the correct direction. We end the dive without actually see any coral or aquatic life. We started to shower without knowing that we have another dive to go. Once get shower, we are too tired to change and dive again. This end the journey of myself to become a diver in a week.
I’m a Poet!! another test
0KC, you're a Poet!
Your personality is actually determined by two personality sub-types – your
primary, or dominant sub-type, and your secondary sub-type. You are a
Poet var resultid = ‘I’; switch (resultid) { case(‘A’): document.write(‘Discreet’); break; case(‘B’): case(‘C’): case(‘D’): document.write(‘Seeker’); break; case(‘E’): case(‘F’): case(‘G’): document.write(‘Golden’); break; case(‘H’): case(‘I’): case(‘J’): document.write(‘Thinker’); break; case(‘K’): case(‘L’): case(‘M’): document.write(‘Success’); break; } document.write(‘ / ‘); switch (resultid) { case(‘A’): case(‘B’): case(‘I’): case(‘L’): document.write(‘Golden’); break; case(‘C’): case(‘F’): case(‘M’): document.write(‘Thinker’); break; case(‘D’): case(‘G’): case(‘J’): document.write(‘Success’); break; case(‘E’): case(‘H’): case(‘K’): document.write(‘Seeker’); break; } document.write(‘ Your primary sub-type is defined by “‘); switch (resultid) { case(‘A’): document.write(‘Discreet’); break; case(‘B’): case(‘C’): case(‘D’): document.write(‘Seeker’); break; case(‘E’): case(‘F’): case(‘G’): document.write(‘Golden’); break; case(‘H’): case(‘I’): case(‘J’): document.write(‘Thinker’); break; case(‘K’): case(‘L’): case(‘M’): document.write(‘Success’); break; } document.write(‘” characteristics and your secondary sub-type is defined by “‘); switch (resultid) { case(‘A’): case(‘B’): case(‘I’): case(‘L’): document.write(‘Golden’); break; case(‘C’): case(‘F’): case(‘M’): document.write(‘Thinker’); break; case(‘D’): case(‘G’): case(‘J’): document.write(‘Success’); break; case(‘E’): case(‘H’): case(‘K’): document.write(‘Seeker’); break; } document.write(‘” characteristics.’); which means you are a Thinker / Golden Your primary sub-type is defined by "Thinker" characteristics and your secondary sub-type is defined by "Golden" characteristics.
That
means you're complex and artistic with a rich inner life. Chances are you're a
bit shy and quiet, and you enjoy peaceful, comfortable environments. You're an
interesting person to know, full of insights and inspiration, even though you're
sometimes hesitant to express them.
How do we know all this? How do we
know that you enjoy intense one-on-ones or small, intimate dinner parties? Or
that you might not make friends all that easily, but that you relish the ones
you have? How could we have divined that you don't like to juggle too much at
work and can get stressed out by major job upheavals?
Because while you
were taking the test, you answered four different types of questions — questions
that measured confidence, apprehension, willingness to take risks, and your
focus on experience versus appearance — the primary traits that determine your
personality. Based on your responses, we determined your personality type,
Poet.
Is KC a Workaholic?
0Yet another test I did.
Are you a workaholic?
http://web.tickle.com/tests/standard/workaholic.jsp?test=workaholic
Workaholic
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Slow down, take a deep
breath, and RELAX. You deserve it! Do you find yourself hesitating to make plans
"just in case" you have to work late? Has lunch become an unnecessary time-out
in your day? It appears so. Although your priorities are not completely out of
whack, it seems as if your life lacks some balance. It’s certainly commendable
that your job is so important to you. And your endurance and ambition are
certainly admirable. But, you’ve got to make sure that you don’t lose sight of
your own needs because you’re so focused on those of your company. It’s well
known that productivity is higher when you maintain balance in your life. If you
are overworked, not only will your social and personal life suffer, but the
quality of your work will suffer too. Remember, a successful career alone does
not amount to a fulfilling life. Go ahead, take some time for you. You deserve
it!
Workaholics
Are you more familiar with the late night cleaning staff at your
office than you are with your own children? Do you keep extra clothes at the
office just in case you sleep there? Are you considered "the most devoted"
employee at your company? If so, you may be suffering from workaholism. By
definition, it is an addiction to working; compulsive working; the practice of
putting work before everything else in your life — including family and often
physical health.
Workaholism is prevalent in the U.S. and other capitalist
countries. It is the only addiction that is rewarded and encouraged. People who
work long, hard hours are rewarded with higher salaries, promotions, and
accolades from co-workers. The characteristics associated with workaholics are
also those associated with "good workers": diligence, dedication, and putting in
long hours.
The obvious advantage to being a workaholic is usually success in
one’s career. If one is totally devoted to a job, there is a greater chance that
person will do well. But there are many potential disadvantages to being a
workaholic. They are:
- Loss of intimacy with significant others
- Lack of perspective on priorities in life
- Lack of emotional or spiritual balance in one’s life
- High anxiety/stress levels
- Loss of relationships
- Lack of time to pursue hobbies or interests outside of work
- Strain on physical health
Research has revealed several reasons why people become
workaholics:
- Desire to make a lot of money
- Social pressure to be "successful"
- Personal desire to be "successful"
- Pressure from bosses or coworkers
- Avoidance of emotional intimacy with other people
- Avoidance of own emotions, particularly depression
- Lack of other interests or connections in life
So how do you know if you are a workaholic? There are many signs.
Below is a list of the most easily recognizable:
- You think more about your work than your family
- You always take work with you on weekends and vacations
- You frequently cancel plans with your friends and family due to work
- Your family and friends never expect you to be on time
- You are concerned with money and worry about not having it
- You don’t take vacations
- You do everything yourself rather than delegating
- You are excessively competitive, even when not at work
- You constantly worry about your future stability
- The amount you work has hurt your relationships with others
What can you do if you are a workaholic? There are several things
that can help alleviate the addiction and start restoring balance in your
life.
- Participate in non-work related activities or hobbies
- Be reasonable about your time – don’t over schedule
- Subtract activities from your schedule before adding anything new
- Schedule time with significant others
- Learn to prioritize – don’t take on everything at once
- Learn to delegate or ask for help with projects
- Exercise or meditate
- Create a support system of people to help you break the addiction
- Stay in the "now" – don’t focus on what you still have to do
In response to the large number of workaholics in our society,
there is a group called "Workaholics Anonymous". People who join WA admit that
they are compulsive over-workers, that the other parts of their lives are
suffering from their workaholism, and that they want to stop being a workaholic.
For more information on WA, visit their homepage.
Additional Reading:
Ciulla, J.B. (2000). The Working Life: The Promise and
Betrayal of Modern Work. Times Books.
Hanson, J., Marx, P., and Lorenz, L. (Illustrator) (1993). You
Know You’re a Workaholic When… Workman Publishing Company.
Killinger, B. (1997). Workaholics: The Respectable
Addicts. Firefly Books.
Robinson, B.E. (1998). Chained to the Desk: A Guidebook for
Workaholics, Their Partners and Children, and the Clinicians Who Treat Them.
New York: NY University Press.
Ryan, D. and Ryan, J. (1993). Life Recovery Guide – Recovery
from Workaholism. Intervarsity Publishers.
Sawi, Beth (2000). Coming Up for Air: How to Build a Balanced
Life in a Workaholic World. Hyperion Press.
Schaef, A.W. and Fassel, D. (contributor) (1990). The
Addictive Organization: Why We Overwork, Cover Up, Pick Up the Pieces, Please
the Boss and Perpetuate Sick Organizations. San Francisco: Harper
Publishers.
KC, the best Zodiac Match for your personality is Leo
1This is my test result of Zodiac Match Test
End up I only love myself.. Leo
End up I only love myself.. Leo
The Zodiac Match Test
Date The Right Sign For Your Personality
KC, the best Zodiac Match for your personality is Leo
Leo, the Lion (July 23 to August 22): This generous and faithful
partner is just your type. Initially, a Leo may catch your eye with their
outgoing ways and flamboyant personal presence. But as you get to know them,
you’re even more likely to be drawn to your Leo’s strength and loyalty. Be
aware, people born under this sign are known for seeking pleasure at every turn.
Typically, they aren’t afraid to take risks to get what they want. This can-do,
forceful nature can make Leos seem a bit domineering at times. However, a Leo
partner will also usually be very willing to work through any problems that
arise between the two of you. In the bedroom, you’ll likely find the Lion to be
a romantic lover with an ample sex drive. This is just another aspect of their
love for life, attention, and fun.
