Today I took another step toward fulfilling my long time SCUBA dream. I bought my first wet suit, as well as the other basic equipment, including: mask, fins, snorkel, gloves, and boots. In the next month I’ll buy a weight belt too. But, I’m holding off on the tank, regulator and dive computer because they cost so much. For now, I will rent that equipment whenever I dive.

When I tried on my wet suit at the dive shop, I was surprised it was so tight. I could move without major difficulty, but the form fitting nature was a new experience for me. The guy at the shop said it was a perfect fit, and I defer to his experience. I’ve never worn a full wetsuit before – especially not a 7mm suit such as those required for diving in the cold waters of Puget Sound. I did wear a 3mm shorty in Hawaii, but the one I bought today is very different. Below, you can see a picture.

My new suit is not only thick, it has two layers. First, there is the jump suit. It looks like a pair of coveralls. Then, there is the jacket – but it isn’t a regular jacket. It has leg holes too. Add the gloves, boots, and hood and I will be fully protected from cold water. The only exposed part of my body will be my lower cheeks and around my mouth as shown in the picture (it's kinda scary lookin').

Now I have the basic equipment, and I’m already studying my text book and video prior to my first test. Actual in-pool training doesn’t start until mid-November.

On a sad note: As I write this, our dog Sophia is at the veterinarian. She has been lethargic and shaking the last couple days, so we took her into the vet this morning. She would yelp sometimes when we tried picking her up. It appears that Sophia has a tumor in her abdomen. My heart just sank when the doctor said, "She has a tumor the size of a tennis ball." We don't know if it's malignant or not. We don't know if it involves the surrounding organs. We’ll know more after the ultrasound. Then we can consider options for surgery and possible treatment.

UPDATE at 3pm: I just picked Sophia up from the animal hospital. She has a tumor on her spleen. The good news is the spleen and tumor can all be removed at once. The bad news is these types of tumors are usually malignant, and there is a small swelling in her bladder, which may indicate that the cancer has already spread. So, until we can schedule surgery at a clinic next week, we need to keep her calm and quiet. There is a chance that the tumor, which has a substantial amount of fluid in it, could burst and cause internal bleeding. We are supposed to carry her up and down the stairs, doing so with extra care to not put pressure on her abdomen. Soon, Gene will bring home a pain prescription to keep Sophie calm, quiet, and relieve some of her discomfort. Interestingly, she is acting normal now. She has stopped shaking and was very happy to arrive home.

Most likely, we are looking at three or four thousand dollars for all of this surgery, treatment, and medication. And the cancer could still kill her in the future.