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	<title>Ziray Studio Labs &#187; news</title>
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		<title>City of Rocks</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/06/06/city-of-rocks/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/06/06/city-of-rocks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[We visited the City of Rocks National Reserve in southern Idaho and camped there for two days. We also got our first real rock climbing experience. City of Rocks &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/06/06/city-of-rocks/">City of Rocks</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Colombia'>Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/' rel='bookmark' title='Welcome, Willkommen, Üdvözölek, Bienvenido!'>Welcome, Willkommen, Üdvözölek, Bienvenido!</a></li>
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</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We visited the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;source=s_q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=city+of+rocks,+ID&amp;aq=&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=40.001301,74.707031&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=City+of+Rocks&amp;t=h&amp;z=15">City of Rocks National Reserve</a> in southern Idaho and camped there for two days. We also got our first real rock climbing experience.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/06/06/city-of-rocks/">City of Rocks</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/12/11/railay-beach-thailand/' rel='bookmark' title='Railay Beach, Thailand'>Railay Beach, Thailand</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Colombia'>Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/' rel='bookmark' title='Welcome, Willkommen, Üdvözölek, Bienvenido!'>Welcome, Willkommen, Üdvözölek, Bienvenido!</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/26/medellin-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Medellín Colombia'>Medellín Colombia</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<media:content url="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zZJHZ3SmLZs/Te0vMlmisQI/AAAAAAAAMWs/7Jiy9LNk2zg/s512/IMG_4358.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WTbpclBtJOg/Te0vN0dytVI/AAAAAAAAMWw/_nLgMmWlry0/s512/IMG_4365.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PNQwuGAQGiw/Te0vTW6NyRI/AAAAAAAAMW0/LtdFU0CyX9U/s512/IMG_4369.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qJYPYhIeJwo/Te0vaCblMjI/AAAAAAAAMW4/iOUqaS6piKo/s512/IMG_4377.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fsZU9FdnNTI/Te0vcyvg60I/AAAAAAAAMW8/b1W9dkzm6HU/s512/IMG_4378.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gcVeKFURG8s/Te0veYeo0zI/AAAAAAAAMXA/R77KO5VDdjQ/s512/IMG_4387.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8fdM5CgfqCU/Te0vjpMrt1I/AAAAAAAAMXE/cLAbgykuppk/s512/IMG_4392.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qJ9dT4zDhFw/Te0vpa7nnUI/AAAAAAAAMXI/wcBE58es8Hw/s512/IMG_4394.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Mo5YF2ElHY0/Te0vsNHiKHI/AAAAAAAAMXM/5KUPaCuEUOc/s512/IMG_4402.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LqePA8ydQ-k/Te0vsl2kzzI/AAAAAAAAMXQ/EAPD4mUZFfs/s512/IMG_4408.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i-kLR-lUqZw/Te0vunAp6zI/AAAAAAAAMXU/oXO2O6tso14/s512/IMG_4431.jpg" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2FRxf3vznwg/Te0vvp-bHTI/AAAAAAAAMXY/ILlfXNeyPMo/s512/IMG_4432.jpg" medium="image" />
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dive Centers, iPhone apps and More</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/04/17/dive-centers-iphone-apps-and-more/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/04/17/dive-centers-iphone-apps-and-more/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Apr 2011 22:26:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=1249</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of you who follow, you always want to know what I&#8217;m up to. Some might think I&#8217;ve spent all this time opening a dive center here in the New River Valley. In fact, I think I&#8217;ve only spent about 10% of my time doing that. iPhone Apps We have two that are completed [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/04/17/dive-centers-iphone-apps-and-more/">Dive Centers, iPhone apps and More</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/03/13/avalon-dive-center-blacksburg-va/' rel='bookmark' title='Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA'>Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/22/mobile-application-development/' rel='bookmark' title='Mobile Application Development'>Mobile Application Development</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/22/isla-fuerte-bushnell-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For those of you who follow, you always want to know what I&#8217;m up to.</p>
<p>Some might think I&#8217;ve spent all this time opening <a title="Avalon Dive Center" href="http://www.avalondivecenter.com">a dive center here in the New River Valley</a>. In fact, I think I&#8217;ve only spent about 10% of my time doing that.</p>
<h2>iPhone Apps</h2>
<p>We have two that are completed and awaiting final testing. This is usually the longest part of creating any application. We haven&#8217;t had any of our live apps crash yet, and I prefer to keep it that way. So, we do a lot of testing. And when we think we&#8217;re done, we test some more.</p>
<h2>Lab Work</h2>
<p>One must think I&#8217;m getting my PhD in Environmental Engineering. I do have a degree from the College of Engineering (Computer Science), but Environmental? I would never have thought. But Ana is finishing up and I&#8217;m helping out. That means preparing batch reactors, measuring gas production and writing a thesis. Luckily I&#8217;m only helping in small quantities and the lab work is completely done. Now it&#8217;s just data analysis and finishing off that thesis. I guess it&#8217;s science, and we use a computer, so it&#8217;s kind of what I went to school for.</p>
<h2>Businesses</h2>
<p>As I mentioned, we opened a dive center in Blacksburg. But we also created a state of the art website for it that&#8217;ll allow the company to grow into something much more than a dive center. We had the awesome team from <a title="HellowYellow Web Design" href="http://www.hellowyellow.com" target="_blank">HellowYellow</a> design us the site, and they did an amazing job. We&#8217;re working on a ton of new features to the site like class registration, videos, etc. How hard can all that be? Well it&#8217;s part of a much larger picture, so a little harder than you think.</p>
<p>Part of that larger picture is this: It&#8217;s not about opening a dive center and sharing our passion for scuba. It&#8217;s about taking a business, any business, and making it the best at what it does. Most dive center websites look like theirs were created in 1996, by a dude with 10 minutes of html experience while sitting on a beach, drinking coronas.</p>
<p>So we started something. That something has grown to include several businesses, several partnerships, several clients and a lot of change. That change will upset a lot of people, namely those on the other side. How many, will be our measure of success.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/04/17/dive-centers-iphone-apps-and-more/">Dive Centers, iPhone apps and More</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/03/13/avalon-dive-center-blacksburg-va/' rel='bookmark' title='Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA'>Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/22/mobile-application-development/' rel='bookmark' title='Mobile Application Development'>Mobile Application Development</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/22/isla-fuerte-bushnell-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Colombia</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 03:02:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antioquia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blacksburg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colombia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colombiana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medellin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new years]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vacation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[virginia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wedding]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=1216</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The past few months have been one great thing after another. I got the opportunity to spend New Year&#8217;s Day in Colombia, which is better than any fourth of July celebration in any American city. In the US, where there&#8217;s an hour of fireworks displays, in Medellín, Colombia, the fireworks last the entire evening, night [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/">Colombia</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/11/20/colombia-for-christmas/' rel='bookmark' title='Colombia for Christmas'>Colombia for Christmas</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/26/medellin-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Medellín Colombia'>Medellín Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/02/christmas-eve-morning-in-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia'>Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/05/isla-fuerte-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte, Colombia'>Isla Fuerte, Colombia</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The past few months have been one great thing after another.</p>
<p>I got the opportunity to spend New Year&#8217;s Day in Colombia, which is better than any fourth of July celebration in any American city. In the US, where there&#8217;s an hour of fireworks displays, in Medellín, Colombia, the fireworks last the entire evening, night and into early morning. If one didn&#8217;t know any better, you&#8217;d swear you were living in a war zone with constant gun fire. It was truly amazing. The same thing happens on Christmas.</p>
<p>I also got married in Colombia, so that was kind of a big deal. We rented out a extremely fancy club and  partied until 4AM; then, we went to an after party. Also, my family got to see the amazing landscape that happens in no other place in the world except Colombia.</p>
<p>Too many things have happened since, so I have to keep this short, or not post it at all</p>
<p>Enjoy the photos:</p>

<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/dsc_0231/' title='Real Mountains'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC_0231-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Real Mountains" title="Real Mountains" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_0066/' title='View from a shopping mall'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0066-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="View from a shopping mall" title="View from a shopping mall" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_0919/' title='Our dog enjoying the beautiful weather'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0919-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Our dog enjoying the beautiful weather" title="Our dog enjoying the beautiful weather" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_0926/' title='Our dog relaxing with her cousins'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0926-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Our dog relaxing with her cousins" title="Our dog relaxing with her cousins" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_0945/' title='Greenhouses where all our orchids for the wedding came from'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0945-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Greenhouses where all our orchids for the wedding came from" title="Greenhouses where all our orchids for the wedding came from" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1222/' title='Good old fashioned BBQ'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1222-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Good old fashioned BBQ" title="Good old fashioned BBQ" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1245/' title='Old bridge in Santa Fe de Antioquia'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1245-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Old bridge in Santa Fe de Antioquia" title="Old bridge in Santa Fe de Antioquia" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1248/' title='One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1248-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world" title="One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1356/' title='View from a country house'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1356-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="View from a country house" title="View from a country house" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1377/' title='Our dog having too much fun'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1377-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Our dog having too much fun" title="Our dog having too much fun" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1384/' title='Our dog in the jungle'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1384-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Our dog in the jungle" title="Our dog in the jungle" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1391/' title='Amusement rides in the mall'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1391-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Amusement rides in the mall" title="Amusement rides in the mall" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_1399/' title='Chicharrón'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1399-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Chicharrón" title="Chicharrón" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_2062-r-l/' title='Wedding from above'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_2062-r-l-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Wedding from above" title="Wedding from above" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/img_2251-r-l/' title='The band at the wedding'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_2251-r-l-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="The band at the wedding" title="The band at the wedding" /></a>

<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/">Colombia</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/11/20/colombia-for-christmas/' rel='bookmark' title='Colombia for Christmas'>Colombia for Christmas</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/26/medellin-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Medellín Colombia'>Medellín Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/02/christmas-eve-morning-in-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia'>Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/05/isla-fuerte-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte, Colombia'>Isla Fuerte, Colombia</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC_0231-150x150.jpg" />
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC_0231.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Real Mountains</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Real Mountains</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC_0231-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0066.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">View from a shopping mall</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">View from a shopping mall</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0066-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0919.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Our dog enjoying the beautiful weather</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Our dog enjoying the beautiful weather</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0919-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0926.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Our dog relaxing with her cousins</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Our dog relaxing with her cousins</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0926-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0945.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Greenhouses where all our orchids for the wedding came from</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Greenhouses where all our orchids for the wedding came from</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0945-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1222.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Good old fashioned BBQ</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Good old fashioned BBQ</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1222-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1245.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Old bridge in Santa Fe de Antioquia</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Old bridge in Santa Fe de Antioquia</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1245-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1248.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1248-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1356.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">View from a country house</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">View from a country house</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1356-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1377.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Our dog having too much fun</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Our dog having too much fun</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1377-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1384.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Our dog in the jungle</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Our dog in the jungle</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1384-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_1391.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Amusement rides in the mall</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Amusement rides in the mall</media:description>
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			<media:title type="html">Chicharrón</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Chicharrón</media:description>
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			<media:title type="html">Wedding from above</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Wedding from above</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_2062-r-l-150x150.jpg" />
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			<media:title type="html">The band at the wedding</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">The band at the wedding</media:description>
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		<title>I Am Not an Entrepreneur</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/07/i-am-not-an-entrepreneur/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/07/i-am-not-an-entrepreneur/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:13:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=1188</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people throw around the term entrepreneur. It seems most people put that in their bios. Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re an entrepreneur, show me. What have you done? When we started LTZ, our mobile and web app development company, we didn&#8217;t need any venture capital funding. We didn&#8217;t need a fancy office to rent. We [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/07/i-am-not-an-entrepreneur/">I Am Not an Entrepreneur</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/10/iphone-pricing/' rel='bookmark' title='iPhone Pricing'>iPhone Pricing</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/22/mobile-application-development/' rel='bookmark' title='Mobile Application Development'>Mobile Application Development</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/11/what-ive-been-up-to/' rel='bookmark' title='What I&#8217;ve Been Up To'>What I&#8217;ve Been Up To</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/04/17/dive-centers-iphone-apps-and-more/' rel='bookmark' title='Dive Centers, iPhone apps and More'>Dive Centers, iPhone apps and More</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many people throw around the term entrepreneur. It seems most people put that in their bios. Don&#8217;t tell me you&#8217;re an entrepreneur, show me. What have you done?</p>
<p>When we started <a href="http://www.ltzllc.com" target="_blank">LTZ, our mobile and web app development company,</a> we didn&#8217;t need any venture capital funding. We didn&#8217;t need a fancy office to rent. We didn&#8217;t need to do the whole fancy company launch. We just sat down at our computers and started coding. And when we finally had a product to ship, we did all the legal paper work and got ourselves a little LLC.</p>
<p>Sure there were risks. The risk of becoming single again was always there. Sure there were long days. 16 hours seemed to be the norm. And sure there were a few new technologies that we created. But when it came down to it, we just had a simple plan: work really hard and make some great products.</p>
<p>The business model we had, seemed like a great idea: become an authority and gateway for indie developers to develop their apps with. Sort of like a record label for mobile app developers, but without the whole ripping them off bit. We&#8217;d mentor and direct them to a finished product and take a minimal cut from the net profits. Any programmer can attest to the numerous projects that never make it to a finished, polished, tested app. But that&#8217;s exactly what separates the professionals from the amateurs: finished products.</p>
<p>Now, we&#8217;re looking at things differently and adjusting our model. We&#8217;ve found out a little more about what works and what doesn&#8217;t in this new space. When you&#8217;re such a small company, the saying, &#8220;If you want things done right, you gotta do it yourself,&#8221; turns into, &#8220;If you want something done, you gotta do it yourself.&#8221; It&#8217;s really hard to concentrate on writing good code when you&#8217;re the tester, the project manager and the client manager all in one.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll talk more about the new direction we&#8217;re heading soon. In the meantime, we&#8217;re still working on the details and we&#8217;ll update everyone as soon as we finalize everything.</p>
<p>I am not an entrepreneur. I just create stuff.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/07/i-am-not-an-entrepreneur/">I Am Not an Entrepreneur</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/10/iphone-pricing/' rel='bookmark' title='iPhone Pricing'>iPhone Pricing</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/22/mobile-application-development/' rel='bookmark' title='Mobile Application Development'>Mobile Application Development</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/11/what-ive-been-up-to/' rel='bookmark' title='What I&#8217;ve Been Up To'>What I&#8217;ve Been Up To</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/04/17/dive-centers-iphone-apps-and-more/' rel='bookmark' title='Dive Centers, iPhone apps and More'>Dive Centers, iPhone apps and More</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Photos of the Week: Living Things</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:40:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=1134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We got a new puppy this past weekend. We finally decided on naming her Kiara. Her shelter name was Lupe, but we wanted something that we picked out since she was going to be our dog. Ana checked out all the shelters, petfinder.com, Craig&#8217;s List and everywhere else she could think of online. We had [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/">Photos of the Week: Living Things</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/03/christmas-eve-night-in-medellin/' rel='bookmark' title='Christmas Eve Night in Medellin'>Christmas Eve Night in Medellin</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We got a new puppy this past weekend. We finally decided on naming her Kiara. Her shelter name was Lupe, but we wanted something that we picked out since she was going to be our dog. Ana checked out all the shelters, petfinder.com, Craig&#8217;s List and everywhere else she could think of online. We had actually went to the <a href="http://plannedpethoodrockymount.com/" target="_blank">Franklin County Humane Society</a> looking for another dog that Ana saw, but she had been adopted that previous weekend.</p>
<p>Instead, we found Kiara in a cage outside, scared to death of the other barking dogs around her. She wouldn&#8217;t even come out, but instead cowered into the corner. Ana climbed into the cage and Kiara instantly cuddled up to her. Kiara had actually been returned to the shelter two days before by a women with health problems who couldn&#8217;t handle the activeness of a collie puppy. Real intelligent. She was also infested with thousands of ticks, which the humane society had over looked because of her fluffy hair, the fact that the vet was on vacation and that she had only been there for two days.</p>
<p>But she&#8217;s adjusting well and Ana has already begun training her in various things and taking her on long walks.</p>

<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/img_0466/' title='Kiara'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0466-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Kiara" title="Kiara" /></a>
<a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/img_0468/' title='Kiara'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0468-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Kiara" title="Kiara" /></a>

<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/">Photos of the Week: Living Things</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
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</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0466-150x150.jpg" />
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0466.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kiara</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Kiara</media:description>
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		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0468.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kiara</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Kiara</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0468-150x150.jpg" />
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		<title>Eat Ice Cream to Help Animals</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/07/13/eat-ice-cream-to-help-animals/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/07/13/eat-ice-cream-to-help-animals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:11:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Eat Ice Cream to Help Animals is a post from: Ziray Studio Labs No related posts.<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/07/13/eat-ice-cream-to-help-animals/">Eat Ice Cream to Help Animals</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Friends-benefit.jpg?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1109" title="Friend's benefit" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Friends-benefit-786x1024.jpg" alt="" width="629" height="819" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/07/13/eat-ice-cream-to-help-animals/">Eat Ice Cream to Help Animals</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
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			<media:title type="html">Friend&#8217;s benefit</media:title>
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		<title>Immigration</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/05/19/immigration/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 19 May 2010 14:20:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[This is no way intended to be a guide to immigration through marriage, just an account of the work process and work we did to accomplish this. Petition for a Family Member It&#8217;s kind of strange to call someone you&#8217;re going to be married to a relative, but that&#8217;s what it&#8217;s referred to. Any legal [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/05/19/immigration/">Immigration</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

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</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is no way intended to be a guide to immigration through marriage, just an account of the work process and work we did to accomplish this.</p>
<h2><strong>Petition for a Family Member</strong></h2>
<p>It&#8217;s kind of strange to call someone you&#8217;re going to be married to a relative, but that&#8217;s what it&#8217;s referred to. Any legal resident can petition the government to allow immediate family to join them in the United States. This is the case if you&#8217;re an immigrant or a citizen. Upon marrying someone, a citizen can request that the government allow the spouse to enter, live and work within the US. The spouse, if already in the US, can update their visa from, in our case, an F1 student visa, to permanent resident status. The law gets really tricky if you enter the US on a non-immigration visa, in other words not intending to immigrate, after having filed a Petition for Alien Relative. And yes, they call them aliens.</p>
<p>The form, I-130, is just a form stating who I am, how I&#8217;m legally in this country (through birth), and what my relation is to the person for whom I&#8217;m petitioning. Pretty straight forward.</p>
<h2>Changing Visa Status</h2>
<p>At the same time, we file an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, form I-485. This allows Ana to update her F1 visa to a Permanent Resident visa. After having filed this, she can not leave the country and return on her F1 visa. The reason is, upon entering the US under an F1 student visa, she is stating that by entering on a non-immigration visa, she is not intending to stay in the country, which would be false, since she has filed for permanent residency. It makes sense, but is something people need to be aware of. To get around this, there is another form I-131, Application for Travel Document, that we would need to file until she&#8217;s approved for a green card so that she can travel to Colombia or somewhere else on our honeymoon.</p>
<h2>Additional Forms</h2>
<p>There are a few more forms to file, such as an Application for Employment Authorization, form I-765, biographic information, form G-325A and my favorite, form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, which will send me an email and/or text message when my application has changed status.</p>
<p>The process is pretty straight forward, but we consulted with a lawyer first to know what we were getting ourselves into. The tough part is understanding each form that needs to be filed, how to file it, what you need to file it properly and gathering all the other information and supporting documents that are needed. We can hire a lawyer to do all of this for us after we get married, but we don&#8217;t have the money right now. But we&#8217;re confidant we can properly do all of this. The trick is just taking a bit at a time and a lot of reading. Each government form has accompanying instructions to follow so it makes the process a lot less daunting.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/05/19/immigration/">Immigration</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2008/07/14/bike-training-with-the-garmin-edge-705-gps/' rel='bookmark' title='Bike Training with the Garmin Edge 705 GPS'>Bike Training with the Garmin Edge 705 GPS</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/10/iphone-pricing/' rel='bookmark' title='iPhone Pricing'>iPhone Pricing</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/07/01/why-your-code-sucks-naming-conventions/' rel='bookmark' title='Naming Conventions &#8211; Why Your Code Sucks'>Naming Conventions &#8211; Why Your Code Sucks</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>What I&#8217;ve Been Up To</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/11/what-ive-been-up-to/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:34:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been crazy busy ever since we returned from Colombia. We fell back into life in the US at full sprint and have only had a few periods since where we could rest. As a result, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve been clear on what exactly I&#8217;ve been up to with my family and friends. So [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/11/what-ive-been-up-to/">What I&#8217;ve Been Up To</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/03/13/avalon-dive-center-blacksburg-va/' rel='bookmark' title='Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA'>Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/07/i-am-not-an-entrepreneur/' rel='bookmark' title='I Am Not an Entrepreneur'>I Am Not an Entrepreneur</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;ve been crazy busy ever since we returned from Colombia. We fell back into life in the US at full sprint and have only had a few periods since where we could rest. As a result, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve been clear on what exactly I&#8217;ve been up to with my family and friends. So here&#8217;s the short version of most of the major things I&#8217;ve been up to since getting back:</p>
<h2>iPhone Development</h2>
<p>We started a company last year to allow independent iPhone app developers to make the transition from &#8220;wanna-be&#8221; to published developer. The model works similar to a record label, where <a href="http://www.ltzllc.com" target="_blank">LTZ</a> provides the leverage, so that developers can concentrate on coding rather than the logistics of getting apps out. We wanted to start small, get a few early successes and then use that momentum to gather a pool of developers. We&#8217;re also planning a Code Kitchen, which is a class to teach iPhone and Mac programming to anyone interested for free.</p>
<p>Most of our early time was spent on logistics, even though we had our first app idea right from the start. It was a lot of waiting; we waited for resources (copy, data, images, feedback), we waited for Apple, we waited for the lawyers and we waited for contracts. So in a year&#8217;s time, we finally had an application ready to release. But thankfully, most of that work won&#8217;t have to be completed again since the contracts, setup and other logistics are taken care of. I&#8217;ll post a longer article on the whole process (what it took, what we learned, etc), but as I type this, our app, <a href="http://www.ltzllc.com/products/barninja.php" target="_blank">BarNinja</a> is &#8220;In Review,&#8221; waiting to go up on the Apple App Store. It still might get rejected (one never knows with these processes), but we&#8217;re hopeful that it will appease the Apple review gods. We&#8217;re also more hopeful that the app will actually sell well and we can get some money into the business so we can buy &#8220;test&#8221; devices, like the brand new iPad for all our people.</p>
<h2>Scuba Diving in Blacksburg</h2>
<p>As many already know, scuba diving is a relatively new thing for me. However, I instantly fell in love with the sport and have tried to progress as quickly as I can. It&#8217;s been a lot cheaper than flying.</p>
<p>I got my Open Water (OW) certification in November of &#8217;08 (<a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/02/05/flying-string-rays/?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog" target="_blank">with dives in Cozumel, Mexico</a> in December), my Advanced Open Water (AOW) in July of &#8217;09 (<a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/08/12/pleasure-reef-key-largo-florida/" target="_blank">with dives in the Florida Keys</a> and o<a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/08/19/life-goal-complete-us-coast-guard-bibb-wreck-dive/" target="_blank">n the US Coast Guard Cutter my grandfather served on in World War II</a>), my Rescue Diver certification (that required another certification of Emergency First Responder) and now I&#8217;m working on my Divemaster certification, which is a professional level diving certification. As you can image, this has been a long journey, with a ton of training, reading, and diving. The diving part was especially difficult due to the location. <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/" target="_blank">Blacksburg is not known for it&#8217;s amazing scuba diving</a>, but diving in the local river, which has a maximum depth of 41 feet, has made it a bit easier.</p>
<p>We should be able to finish up the divemaster certification in May of this year. That&#8217;ll allow me to help teach some classes with Scott, who runs Avalon Adventures here in Blacksburg and the New River Valley (NRV). He&#8217;s my current instructor and I&#8217;ve helped him out with his website. The plan is to serve Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, and the surrounding NRV to provide classes, dive trips, dive refreshers and other adventures. Hopefully, we&#8217;ll also make some money in the process.</p>
<h2>Music</h2>
<p>I&#8217;ve picked up my guitars again. Sadly, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve picked them up in at least six months, but I&#8217;m at it again. Luckily it only took me a few minutes to remember what those six months made me forget. I am also helping my old Computer Science instructor with his business at <a href="http://www.RocketMusic.net" target="_blank">Rocket Music</a>. It helps me get back into music, even though its on a strictly computer programming level. Just talking about guitars, buying guitars, customizing guitars and everything guitars reminds me to go pick up one of my guitars and practice, if for only 15 minutes.</p>
<h2>Our Foster Dog</h2>
<p>Our <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/29/petunia/?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog" target="_blank">foster dog Petunia</a> has really adjusted well with us. When we first got her, she had some problems with other dogs, being generally nervous, crying when we left her home alone, etc. We weren&#8217;t surprised, since her previous owners abandoned her and she spent a long time in the shelter. Now all she does it try to cuttle up with us and never leaves us, even if that means following us from room to room.</p>
<p>Ana is getting attached to Petunia and I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;re going to get her adopted. Being a Pitbull mix, people are afraid of her. However, everyone that&#8217;s met her has loved her, which is another reason we don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ll let her be adopted. She never barks, is great with our cat, loves to play, never complains, and is so adorable. She&#8217;s gathered such nicknames as Petu, Petufilese and just Perrita. Dogs are a lot of work, but I think in this case, for her, she&#8217;s worth it.</p>
<h2>Apartment</h2>
<p>My girlfriend of about a year, moved in officially a few months ago. She still has her old apartment, but the rent there is taken care of by a sort of sub-lease. Previously, we were always together anyway, cooking food, studying together, grocery shopping together. The only difference was, she wasn&#8217;t paying rent or the massive electricity bill we seemed to rack up with her presence. I have an extra bedroom in my condo, which I gave to her for all her stuff. We moved in her tredmill into that room (producing some of the first small scratches in my new hard wood floors), her desk and a bunch of other things so that she has her own space. It&#8217;s worked out extremely well and while we&#8217;ve had our fights about stupid apartment and living stuff, you don&#8217;t truly know a person until you lived with them. That goes for friends and girlfriends.</p>
<h2>Spanish</h2>
<p>As a result of living with a native Spanish speaker, I&#8217;ve picked up a lot. I never learned Spanish. It was always the language of poor people where I lived. Instead I studied German, the language that&#8217;s most understood in Europe. While living in Hungary, I learned Hungarian so picking up Spanish was probably the easiest thing for me. With Spanish, for example, just add an &#8216;O&#8217; or an &#8216;A&#8217; after any English word of more than 2 syllables and translate word for word and you have a pretty good, understandable sentence.</p>
<p>Before I met Ana (pronounced Ah-na, not Anne-uh by the way), I probably knew less than 20 words, and that&#8217;s after having spent two weeks in Mexico scuba diving. Before that, I probably knew around 5. Now I wish I would have learned it sooner, but I&#8217;m glad I learned German since Ana and I are planning a trip back to Europe. Ana has never been, so I&#8217;ll take us around Hungary, we&#8217;ll visit Italy (which is a language both of us have studied, but she understands a lot better) and she can take us around Spain since they almost speak the same language as she does.</p>
<p>We have a savings account set up that we&#8217;ve been putting money in since last summer. It&#8217;s not a lot, but it&#8217;ll at least pay for the plane tickets out there. Then we plan on staying with friends where we can, and since we both have friends all over Europe, it shouldn&#8217;t be an issue.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/11/what-ive-been-up-to/">What I&#8217;ve Been Up To</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/03/13/avalon-dive-center-blacksburg-va/' rel='bookmark' title='Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA'>Avalon Dive Center &#8211; Blacksburg, VA</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/09/more-photos-of-petunia/' rel='bookmark' title='More Photos of Petunia'>More Photos of Petunia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/07/i-am-not-an-entrepreneur/' rel='bookmark' title='I Am Not an Entrepreneur'>I Am Not an Entrepreneur</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Washington DC &#8211; Summer 2009</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/07/washington-dc-summer-2009/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/07/washington-dc-summer-2009/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:37:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[site seeing]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Washington DC Photos A bunch of people showed up in Georgetown to protest the elections in Iran &#160; &#160; Elena and Juanca Sisters sharing shoes Restaurant in Georgetown we ate at &#160; &#160; Tourists &#160; &#160; List of countries near the Korean Memorial &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; Clouds near [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/07/washington-dc-summer-2009/">Washington DC &#8211; Summer 2009</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/14/learn-spanish-or-any-other-language/' rel='bookmark' title='Learn Spanish, or any other language'>Learn Spanish, or any other language</a></li>
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</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="kb-inlinePicasa"><h3><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC">Washington DC Photos</a></h3>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993701705163586" title="Click to enlarge. A bunch of people showed up in Georgetown to protest the elections in Iran"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-arPThFph-N8/S0XliL4Xo0I/AAAAAAAAKHA/ZJ0XhLERglQ/s512/IMG_1331.jpg" alt="A bunch of people showed up in Georgetown to protest the elections in Iran" height="342" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">A bunch of people showed up in Georgetown to protest the elections in Iran</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993718471092146" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rRtmKfk0fxA/S0XljKVrZ7I/AAAAAAAAKHE/Eiwb8UFdrU0/s512/IMG_1335.jpg" alt="" height="342" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993730373557874" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BoCuul-AOME/S0Xlj2rcnnI/AAAAAAAAKHI/gHh3ZNi6_JY/s512/IMG_1337.jpg" alt="" height="342" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993750923262114" title="Click to enlarge. Elena and Juanca"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CZN5-LS5EV4/S0XllDO4OKI/AAAAAAAAKHM/lyqoaBNjpfQ/s512/IMG_1341.jpg" alt="Elena and Juanca" height="342" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Elena and Juanca</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993767267868946" title="Click to enlarge. Sisters sharing shoes"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6v3ZrnqtfQY/S0XlmAHvIRI/AAAAAAAAKHQ/QB7k8jqz7FM/s512/IMG_1346.jpg" alt="Sisters sharing shoes" height="342" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Sisters sharing shoes</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993792886270290" title="Click to enlarge. Restaurant in Georgetown we ate at"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Vunjd7_NJlk/S0Xlnfjo6VI/AAAAAAAAKHU/CN3QcX0KsSo/s512/IMG_1342.jpg" alt="Restaurant in Georgetown we ate at" height="342" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Restaurant in Georgetown we ate at</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993815817878194" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K0JB3tMd7WM/S0Xlo0-9erI/AAAAAAAAKHY/10ZkjCIMEOY/s512/IMG_1345.jpg" alt="" height="342" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993842064881026" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E3k-Sc5H5Vo/S0XlqWwu9YI/AAAAAAAAKHc/FPwtDXPhjXY/s512/IMG_1349.jpg" alt="" height="342" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993889422465554" title="Click to enlarge. Tourists"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8bsDa1szA4M/S0XltHLqWhI/AAAAAAAAKHo/bP3QXK2upD4/s512/IMG_1351.jpg" alt="Tourists" height="342" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993913514124770" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0iBSIKqlRU4/S0Xlug7j5eI/AAAAAAAAKHw/pMFyOQJfKY8/s512/IMG_1353.jpg" alt="" height="342" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993938263021362" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Dtlbbf1bqY4/S0Xlv9IKFzI/AAAAAAAAKH4/QEoFSbFNkcc/s512/IMG00063.jpg" alt="" height="384" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423993981351982402" title="Click to enlarge. List of countries near the Korean Memorial"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mP4UYYCVxaI/S0XlydpXdUI/AAAAAAAAKIM/gd1FJQeC4-8/s512/IMG_1357.jpg" alt="List of countries near the Korean Memorial" height="342" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">List of countries near the Korean Memorial</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423994196968918610" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nY6vWys1gyk/S0Xl_A4czlI/AAAAAAAAKJw/WebeKZ_bD5A/s512/IMG_1396.jpg" alt="" height="512" width="342" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423994220475391778" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--wwCcVlZ-FU/S0XmAYc1HyI/AAAAAAAAKJ8/tAC03BP-Q0U/s512/IMG_1404.jpg" alt="" height="512" width="342" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423994243387071202" title="Click to enlarge. Clouds near the Jefferson Memorial"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DAcCLDkaXkI/S0XmBtzZmuI/AAAAAAAAKKE/JBW8K9ojHZ8/s512/IMG_1408.jpg" alt="Clouds near the Jefferson Memorial" height="342" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Clouds near the Jefferson Memorial</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423994265270657266" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pw_xsmCtals/S0XmC_U2oPI/AAAAAAAAKKM/gjvCwTn1ZtU/s512/IMG_1412.jpg" alt="" height="512" width="342" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/WashingtonDC/photo#5423994285188510994" title="Click to enlarge. Latin guys that called Ana hot in Spanish, not knowing she perfectly understood. In DC, speaking Spanish is NOT a discreet way to communicate."><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pvR8V1jY5cc/S0XmEJho9RI/AAAAAAAAKKY/xEXiXia8E18/s512/IMG_1413.jpg" alt="Latin guys that called Ana hot in Spanish, not knowing she perfectly understood. In DC, speaking Spanish is NOT a discreet way to communicate." height="342" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Latin guys that called Ana hot in Spanish, not knowing she perfectly understood. In DC, speaking Spanish is NOT a discreet way to communicate.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/07/washington-dc-summer-2009/">Washington DC &#8211; Summer 2009</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/03/01/photos-of-the-week-31/' rel='bookmark' title='Photos of the Week (3/1)'>Photos of the Week (3/1)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/10/14/learn-spanish-or-any-other-language/' rel='bookmark' title='Learn Spanish, or any other language'>Learn Spanish, or any other language</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/03/christmas-eve-night-in-medellin/' rel='bookmark' title='Christmas Eve Night in Medellin'>Christmas Eve Night in Medellin</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/03/02/discover-scuba/' rel='bookmark' title='Discover Scuba'>Discover Scuba</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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			<media:title type="html">A bunch of people showed up in Georgetown to protest the elections in Iran</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Elena and Juanca</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Sisters sharing shoes</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Restaurant in Georgetown we ate at</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Tourists</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">List of countries near the Korean Memorial</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Clouds near the Jefferson Memorial</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Latin guys that called Ana hot in Spanish, not knowing she perfectly understood. In DC, speaking Spanish is NOT a discreet way to communicate.</media:title>
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		<title>Colombia for Christmas</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/11/20/colombia-for-christmas/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/11/20/colombia-for-christmas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:57:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colombia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medellin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[south america]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=806</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last year, I spent Christmas in Slovakia. We did a ton of skiing in several countries including Slovakia, Austria and then in France. Two years before that I spent it in Hungary and then traveled alone for two weeks in Germany and Switzerland and back to Hungary via Slovakia. Well, not entirely alone since I [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/11/20/colombia-for-christmas/">Colombia for Christmas</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/02/christmas-eve-morning-in-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia'>Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Colombia'>Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/26/medellin-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Medellín Colombia'>Medellín Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2008/09/28/europe-plans-finalized/' rel='bookmark' title='Europe Plans Finalized'>Europe Plans Finalized</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last year, I spent <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2008/12/26/a-very-european-christmas/?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog" target="_blank">Christmas in Slovakia</a>. We did <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/02/22/slovak-skiing-video/" target="_blank">a ton of skiing</a> in several countries including Slovakia, Austria and then in France. Two years before that I spent it in Hungary and then traveled alone for two weeks in Germany and Switzerland and back to Hungary via Slovakia. Well, not entirely alone since I met a ton of great people along the way. This year however, we&#8217;re planning on spending it in Colombia, in the home city of my girlfriend, Ana.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s enough for me to see in <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&#038;source=s_q&#038;hl=en&#038;geocode=&#038;q=medellin,+colombia&#038;sll=37.208773,-80.396029&#038;sspn=0.010886,0.017166&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;hq=&#038;hnear=Medell%C3%ADn,+Colombia&#038;ll=6.251824,-75.57066&#038;spn=0.108698,0.202732&#038;t=h&#038;z=13" target="_blank">Medellin</a>, since I&#8217;ve never been to South America before, or a Spanish speaking country, but we&#8217;ll be traveling throughout Colombia during our brief vacation. Around Christmas will obviously be reserved for spending time with her family but before and after that we have a few excursions planned.</p>
<p>Colombia is a Catholic country (even though a lot of them are scared of how religious the United States seems) and as a result, the city is full of lights and other decorations during this special time. Since towns in the United States are generally discouraged from putting up Christmas specific decorations, it&#8217;ll be something entirely different to see an unabashed version of a city Christmas display. Hungary has always put up lights in Budapest, with Christmas trees and other Christmas specific things, but from what I&#8217;ve seen from photos, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwogn0bein4" target="_blank">Medellin Christmas lights are far more spectacular</a>.</p>
<p>We&#8217;re still looking for a scuba resort where we can dive for a few days for less than $1000. You can do that in Florida in the Keys for half that price, including hotel, but for some reason, we&#8217;re having a hard time finding a good/cheap one in Colombia. I really don&#8217;t want to spend that much money right now, though if we had to, it&#8217;d totally be worth it to swim with whale sharks and huge manta rays.</p>
<p>Other than that, we are planning on visiting some colonial era Colombian towns, the coffee region (with Juan Valdez, the guy with the donkey on all the Colombian coffee) and various other things unique to South America or Colombia. We don&#8217;t have a whole lot of time, but we&#8217;re going to make the most out of the time we have. You can be assured there will be a ton of photos when I get back.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/11/20/colombia-for-christmas/">Colombia for Christmas</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/02/christmas-eve-morning-in-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia'>Christmas Eve Morning in Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2011/02/08/colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Colombia'>Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/26/medellin-colombia/' rel='bookmark' title='Medellín Colombia'>Medellín Colombia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2008/09/28/europe-plans-finalized/' rel='bookmark' title='Europe Plans Finalized'>Europe Plans Finalized</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Petunia</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/29/petunia/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/29/petunia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:44:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[foster program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pitbull]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stray]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=762</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;ve had Petunia since the beginning of September and we couldn&#8217;t have asked for a better dog as our first foster pet. She&#8217;s sweet, quiet, calm, doesn&#8217;t jump up on people, playful and loves to snuggle up to you if you lie down with her (she&#8217;s also more than willing to jump into your bed [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/29/petunia/">Petunia</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

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<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/' rel='bookmark' title='Photos of the Week: Living Things'>Photos of the Week: Living Things</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/11/what-ive-been-up-to/' rel='bookmark' title='What I&#8217;ve Been Up To'>What I&#8217;ve Been Up To</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/06/01/photos-of-the-week-after-hours/' rel='bookmark' title='Photos of the Week &#8211; After Hours'>Photos of the Week &#8211; After Hours</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We&#8217;ve had Petunia since the beginning of September and we couldn&#8217;t have asked for a better dog as our first foster pet. She&#8217;s sweet, quiet, calm, doesn&#8217;t jump up on people, playful and loves to snuggle up to you if you lie down with her (she&#8217;s also more than willing to jump into your bed though!). For the first month we had her I had only heard her bark maybe four times and that&#8217;s only because she was excited about something that was going on. She&#8217;s great with my cat Meko, who&#8217;s not such a fan of her but he really isn&#8217;t a fan of anything that he can&#8217;t eat, scratch or sleep on.</p>
<p>We got Petunia through the <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/VA319.html" target="_blank">Animal Wellness Foster Program (AFWP)</a> who provides the food and any medical care she needs. So really, it&#8217;s like renting a dog almost for free, keyword being rent, since someday we&#8217;ll eventually need to give her up to another loving home. We also buy her extra treats because, well, she&#8217;s just too cute not to. However, the reason we chose Petunia from the Montgomery Animal Shelter was that it was unlikely she would be adopted and as this animal shelter is a kill shelter, the foster program is essential to save these dogs&#8217; lives. The problem is, Petunia is a pit bull, a bully breed as it&#8217;s known. People have a misconception about these dogs and ignore other aggressive breeds like dalmatians because there&#8217;s a Disney movie about them. I&#8217;ve never met a sweeter dog in my life. These dogs are also infamous because of <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/11/03/petscol110309.DTL" target="_blank">the Michael Vick dog fighting incident</a>. Just like with bad children, it&#8217;s <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/220497" target="_blank">usually the parent&#8217;s fault and that goes with bad dogs</a> as well.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1473.jpg?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-764" title="Petunia" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1473-300x200.jpg" alt="Petunia" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p>Since I&#8217;ve gotten her, we&#8217;ve trained her to sit, lie down, come and not snap when giving her treats. Instead, she&#8217;ll put her teeth on the treat and try to knock it out of your hand with her tongue. We&#8217;ve also taught her to walk without a leash and will come when called if she wanders too far ahead. She&#8217;ll also run with me on grass but she&#8217;s a little slow and I can usually out run her if I sprint (but just barely). She also allows us to brush her teeth and even though you can tell she&#8217;s not a huge fan of it, she puts up with it.</p>
<h1>Dogs and Cats Do Get Along</h1>
<p>It was a little tricky getting Petunia and Meko to tolerate each other. When I first brought Petunia home, the first thing she wanted to do was sniff everything she could, including poor Meko. Luckily Meko is an extremely curious cat and kept approaching Petunia to check her out, then hissing, moaning and running away. I never let Petunia off the leash at any point while she was home. Every time I caught her looking at him funny I&#8217;d poke her to divert her attention. Sometimes I would even turn her head, she&#8217;d try to look at Meko and I softly move her head away again. This went on for about two weeks with Petunia sleeping in her own room with the door closed. I wasn&#8217;t worried for Meko&#8217;s safety, but really Petunia&#8217;s. Meko isn&#8217;t declawed and while I clip his nails every other week or so, he can still take a large chunk out of your skin if you&#8217;re not careful.</p>
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<p>I tried to introduced them properly several times with Meko always feeling too uneasy. Petunia now won&#8217;t even look at Meko and instead diverts her eyes when she walks past him. It&#8217;s the funniest thing to watch but that&#8217;s not what I intended. So maybe they don&#8217;t get along, but I feel 100% confident I can leave them alone together without either one of them hurting each other. As I said, she&#8217;s the sweetest dog ever.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1507.jpg?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-765" title="Petunia" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1507-300x200.jpg" alt="Petunia" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<h1>She&#8217;s an Eligible Bachelorette</h1>
<p>Next week she gets spayed. After that, it&#8217;s full time advertising to get her adopted. It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t want to keep her, it&#8217;s just that at this point in my life I can&#8217;t. Had she come into my life at a later time I wouldn&#8217;t think of letting her go. And everyone that has met her has said the same thing: she&#8217;s the sweetest, nicest dog ever. Check out <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14919920" target="_blank">Petunia&#8217;s own webpage on Petfinder.com</a>. Make sure you check out the video of her playing in the back yard, it&#8217;s hilarious at the end:</p>
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<p>I&#8217;ve been a little rough when I&#8217;m playing with her but she&#8217;s never shown aggression at any point that I&#8217;ve had her. Not even toward Meko. Now, when it comes to other dogs, it&#8217;s hit or miss. She&#8217;s already made one good dog-friend already, so I know she can learn to be around other dogs as she&#8217;s learned to be around Meko.</p>
<div id="attachment_766" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1454.jpg?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog"><img class="size-medium wp-image-766" title="The dog, not the girl!" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1454-300x200.jpg" alt="The dog, not the girl!" width="300" height="200" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The dog, not the girl!</p></div>
<h1>Not All Dogs are Perfect but They Do Go to Heaven</h1>
<p>Petunia does have her problems, and in the interest of full disclosure here they are:</p>
<ul>
<li>She snores, loudly, and sometimes snorts in her sleep. She also dreams about chasing things so her flailing legs on her bed could get a bit noisy during the night.</li>
<li>She poops, a lot. OK, maybe not anymore than the average dog, but this is my first dog. Maybe when they breed a dog that doesn&#8217;t pee or poop, it&#8217;ll be the perfect pet.</li>
</ul>
<p>So, if you or someone else you knows wants a sweet, huggable, playful dog, Petunia is an awesome dog. And don&#8217;t feel bad about taking her away from me. Sure I&#8217;ll miss her, but we plan on saving and training another dog as soon as we can after Petunia. Dogs are a ton of work, but they&#8217;re also a ton of fun.</p>
<div id="attachment_767" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1461.jpg?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog"><img class="size-medium wp-image-767" title="Oversized Lapdog" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1461-300x200.jpg" alt="Oversized Lapdog" width="300" height="200" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Oversized Lapdog</p></div>
<p>Other Links</p>
<p><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&amp;breed=&amp;age=&amp;size=&amp;specialNeeds=&amp;declawedPets=&amp;children=&amp;status=&amp;id=&amp;internal=&amp;contact=&amp;name=&amp;shelterid=VA319&amp;sort=Id&amp;preview=" target="_blank">More animals, cats and dogs, from the Animal Welfare Foster Program.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/29/petunia/">Petunia</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/01/09/more-photos-of-petunia/' rel='bookmark' title='More Photos of Petunia'>More Photos of Petunia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/08/05/photos-of-the-week-living-things/' rel='bookmark' title='Photos of the Week: Living Things'>Photos of the Week: Living Things</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/04/11/what-ive-been-up-to/' rel='bookmark' title='What I&#8217;ve Been Up To'>What I&#8217;ve Been Up To</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/06/01/photos-of-the-week-after-hours/' rel='bookmark' title='Photos of the Week &#8211; After Hours'>Photos of the Week &#8211; After Hours</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1473.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Petunia</media:title>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1473-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1507.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Petunia</media:title>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1507-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1454.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">The dog, not the girl!</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">The dog, not the girl!</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1454-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
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			<media:title type="html">Oversized Lapdog</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">Oversized Lapdog</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1461-150x150.jpg" />
		</media:content>
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		<item>
		<title>New Floor</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/07/23/new-floor/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/07/23/new-floor/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:55:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[projects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blacksburg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[construction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[floor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=642</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last month I finally put down the floor I&#8217;ve been talking about for so long. My dad came into Blacksburg just to help me put in the floor (and by help, I mean he did most of the work). New Floor Meko surveys the job before we begin The hallway &#160; Livingroom Livingroom with the [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/07/23/new-floor/">New Floor</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/22/isla-fuerte-bushnell-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2007/06/23/temporary-apartment/' rel='bookmark' title='Temporary Apartment'>Temporary Apartment</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/29/petunia/' rel='bookmark' title='Petunia'>Petunia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2008/06/29/home-improvement/' rel='bookmark' title='Home Improvement'>Home Improvement</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last month I finally put down the floor I&#8217;ve been talking about for so long. My dad came into Blacksburg just to help me put in the floor (and by help, I mean he did most of the work).<span id="more-642"></span></p>
<div class="kb-inlinePicasa"><h3><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor">New Floor</a></h3>
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735923962179954" title="Click to enlarge. Meko surveys the job before we begin"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W_Dtl6nFUM8/Smi2akc3cXI/AAAAAAAAJg0/Vucplsxpn1M/s512/IMG_1226.jpg" alt="Meko surveys the job before we begin" height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Meko surveys the job before we begin</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735936289868050" title="Click to enlarge. The hallway"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r0Ar8fUciaA/Smi2bSYBCRI/AAAAAAAAJhA/fkKOyJSyLNI/s512/IMG_1229.jpg" alt="The hallway" height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">The hallway</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735947885493938" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e1hZUYhOcmY/Smi2b9koPrI/AAAAAAAAJhE/Hie6DQIHOdE/s512/IMG_1230.jpg" alt="" height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">&nbsp;</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735949787902754" title="Click to enlarge. Livingroom"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BkW0fNDsICU/Smi2cEqMsyI/AAAAAAAAJhI/N0nXPg7wYEM/s512/IMG_1231.jpg" alt="Livingroom" height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Livingroom</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735953743863426" title="Click to enlarge. Livingroom with the carpet ripped up"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-juzUCGAOC1Q/Smi2cTZX3oI/AAAAAAAAJhM/Va8tZLcJHbM/s512/IMG_1232.jpg" alt="Livingroom with the carpet ripped up" height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Livingroom with the carpet ripped up</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735963778290482" title="Click to enlarge. Bringing in the tools"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zfSnJYN3cJw/Smi2c4xxEzI/AAAAAAAAJhQ/t_dDU-2XchM/s512/IMG_1233.jpg" alt="Bringing in the tools" height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Bringing in the tools</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735965960052466" title="Click to enlarge. We had to rip up the subfloor to get the massive squeaks out. Notice how they hung the drywall for the apartment downstairs (hint: the white strip)."><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6-SY3JYfUU0/Smi2dA58HvI/AAAAAAAAJhU/rBoF0aZZbDE/s512/IMG_1234.jpg" alt="We had to rip up the subfloor to get the massive squeaks out. Notice how they hung the drywall for the apartment downstairs (hint: the white strip)." height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">We had to rip up the subfloor to get the massive squeaks out. Notice how they hung the drywall for the apartment downstairs (hint: the white strip).</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735971453517954" title="Click to enlarge. The builders thought no one would ever see. This floor was obviously never inspected due to some obvious code violations."><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5vMUSR58RQw/Smi2dVXrwII/AAAAAAAAJhY/ENgkDvyIAWM/s512/IMG_1235.jpg" alt="The builders thought no one would ever see. This floor was obviously never inspected due to some obvious code violations." height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">The builders thought no one would ever see. This floor was obviously never inspected due to some obvious code violations.</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735981353750450" title="Click to enlarge. Because the beams were uneven, the subfloor was uneven so we had to level it with some floor leveler."><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rNb2LMHjyMU/Smi2d6QFT7I/AAAAAAAAJhc/4GpZ2zi7S9o/s512/IMG_1236.jpg" alt="Because the beams were uneven, the subfloor was uneven so we had to level it with some floor leveler." height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Because the beams were uneven, the subfloor was uneven so we had to level it with some floor leveler.</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361735989718662866" title="Click to enlarge. And then we put down another subfloor on top of the old one."><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4Ony9D6Zy64/Smi2eZabvtI/AAAAAAAAJhk/tazTAsI0NBg/s512/IMG_1238.jpg" alt="And then we put down another subfloor on top of the old one." height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">And then we put down another subfloor on top of the old one.</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736000111812098" title="Click to enlarge. Beginning to put down the hardwood laminate flooring."><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6QWVVHAc9Lk/Smi2fAIWngI/AAAAAAAAJhs/rUwTniK4t-o/s512/IMG_1240.jpg" alt="Beginning to put down the hardwood laminate flooring." height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Beginning to put down the hardwood laminate flooring.</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736007273663682" title="Click to enlarge. Meko hid in the bathroom during the sawing, hammering and other loud noises."><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VANTTsAbpyw/Smi2faz3zMI/AAAAAAAAJhw/0x3oKAqA8Ds/s512/IMG_1241.jpg" alt="Meko hid in the bathroom during the sawing, hammering and other loud noises." height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Meko hid in the bathroom during the sawing, hammering and other loud noises.</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736010503344722" title="Click to enlarge. Meko voicing his complaints"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5bvnFviQVqc/Smi2fm140lI/AAAAAAAAJh0/BB0VrGZ8lGA/s512/IMG_1242.jpg" alt="Meko voicing his complaints" height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Meko voicing his complaints</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736013049213602" title="Click to enlarge. Hallway laid down."><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w5RwS6U7CB0/Smi2fwU3sqI/AAAAAAAAJh4/zu7MF0dSeLY/s512/IMG_1243.jpg" alt="Hallway laid down." height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Hallway laid down.</p>
					</div>
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				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736020837142626" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Na1FUxuNUbg/Smi2gNVqEGI/AAAAAAAAJh8/juVFTPzIexs/s512/IMG_1244.jpg" alt="" height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">&nbsp;</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736034287162994" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1WyWV0u5dpg/Smi2g_cZFnI/AAAAAAAAJiI/pGdo6KABviY/s512/IMG_1247.jpg" alt="" height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">&nbsp;</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736042681810642" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZrZwjZ4vVxo/Smi2het1PtI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/I0-hWtD2P88/s512/IMG_1249.jpg" alt="" height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">&nbsp;</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736058990100930" title="Click to enlarge. Put down the quarter round on top of the floor to finish it off."><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W8_6lcLJdJc/Smi2ibeCAcI/AAAAAAAAJic/e0CX7X9zYrs/s512/IMG_1252.jpg" alt="Put down the quarter round on top of the floor to finish it off." height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Put down the quarter round on top of the floor to finish it off.</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:351px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736061261700162" title="Click to enlarge. New hardwood floor meets almost new tile floor."><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_fpQQiYAiVA/Smi2ij7n3EI/AAAAAAAAJig/urhySI6naf8/s512/IMG_1253.jpg" alt="New hardwood floor meets almost new tile floor." height="512" width="341" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">New hardwood floor meets almost new tile floor.</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap " style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736066634948418" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ioC96pwyypk/Smi2i38tH0I/AAAAAAAAJik/M8VJoMf_H4U/s512/IMG_1254.jpg" alt="" height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">&nbsp;</p>
					</div>
				</div>
			
				<div class="kb-inlinePicasa-wrap alt" style="width:522px">
					<div class="wp-caption">
						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewFloor/photo#5361736069178083266" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VdNdi2Wi3mA/Smi2jBbCR8I/AAAAAAAAJio/BL8-dQpL7ts/s512/IMG_1255.jpg" alt="" height="341" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">&nbsp;</p>
					</div>
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			</div><div class="kb-inlinePicasa-end"></div>
<p>The cost of it all? Less than $800. Of course labor was free and you&#8217;d be looking at 3-4 times that cost for the same work we did.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/07/23/new-floor/">New Floor</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/22/isla-fuerte-bushnell-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2007/06/23/temporary-apartment/' rel='bookmark' title='Temporary Apartment'>Temporary Apartment</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/29/petunia/' rel='bookmark' title='Petunia'>Petunia</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2008/06/29/home-improvement/' rel='bookmark' title='Home Improvement'>Home Improvement</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/07/23/new-floor/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Meko surveys the job before we begin</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r0Ar8fUciaA/Smi2bSYBCRI/AAAAAAAAJhA/fkKOyJSyLNI/s512/IMG_1229.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">The hallway</media:title>
		</media:content>
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			<media:title type="html">Livingroom</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-juzUCGAOC1Q/Smi2cTZX3oI/AAAAAAAAJhM/Va8tZLcJHbM/s512/IMG_1232.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Livingroom with the carpet ripped up</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zfSnJYN3cJw/Smi2c4xxEzI/AAAAAAAAJhQ/t_dDU-2XchM/s512/IMG_1233.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Bringing in the tools</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6-SY3JYfUU0/Smi2dA58HvI/AAAAAAAAJhU/rBoF0aZZbDE/s512/IMG_1234.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">We had to rip up the subfloor to get the massive squeaks out. Notice how they hung the drywall for the apartment downstairs (hint: the white strip).</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5vMUSR58RQw/Smi2dVXrwII/AAAAAAAAJhY/ENgkDvyIAWM/s512/IMG_1235.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">The builders thought no one would ever see. This floor was obviously never inspected due to some obvious code violations.</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rNb2LMHjyMU/Smi2d6QFT7I/AAAAAAAAJhc/4GpZ2zi7S9o/s512/IMG_1236.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Because the beams were uneven, the subfloor was uneven so we had to level it with some floor leveler.</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4Ony9D6Zy64/Smi2eZabvtI/AAAAAAAAJhk/tazTAsI0NBg/s512/IMG_1238.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">And then we put down another subfloor on top of the old one.</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6QWVVHAc9Lk/Smi2fAIWngI/AAAAAAAAJhs/rUwTniK4t-o/s512/IMG_1240.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Beginning to put down the hardwood laminate flooring.</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VANTTsAbpyw/Smi2faz3zMI/AAAAAAAAJhw/0x3oKAqA8Ds/s512/IMG_1241.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Meko hid in the bathroom during the sawing, hammering and other loud noises.</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5bvnFviQVqc/Smi2fm140lI/AAAAAAAAJh0/BB0VrGZ8lGA/s512/IMG_1242.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Meko voicing his complaints</media:title>
		</media:content>
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			<media:title type="html">Hallway laid down.</media:title>
		</media:content>
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			<media:title type="html">Put down the quarter round on top of the floor to finish it off.</media:title>
		</media:content>
		<media:content url="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_fpQQiYAiVA/Smi2ij7n3EI/AAAAAAAAJig/urhySI6naf8/s512/IMG_1253.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">New hardwood floor meets almost new tile floor.</media:title>
		</media:content>
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		<item>
		<title>River Clean Up and the Roanoke Times</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2009 23:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scuba]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[club]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[newspaper]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[river]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[roanoke]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[virginia tech]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=606</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Virginia Tech&#8217;s Reading Day (the day between classes and the beginning of finals), the Scuba Club at Virginia Tech (SCVT) performed a clean up on the New River near Radford, VA. We picked up several trash bags of garbage, mostly that were left behind from the fishermen that frequent there. There were plenty of [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/">River Clean Up and the Roanoke Times</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='New River Dive'>New River Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/19/photos-of-the-week-419/' rel='bookmark' title='Photos of the Week (4/19)'>Photos of the Week (4/19)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/19/claytor-lake/' rel='bookmark' title='Claytor Lake'>Claytor Lake</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Virginia Tech&#8217;s Reading Day (the day between classes and the beginning of finals), the Scuba Club at Virginia Tech (SCVT) performed a clean up on the New River near Radford, VA. We picked up several trash bags of garbage, mostly that were left behind from the fishermen that frequent there. There were plenty of fishing line, beer cans and other trash to keep us busy for a few hours and we do this every year.</p>
<p>As it had been raining for the past several days prior, the river level was two feet higher than normal, and big trees were being swept down river. The visibility was non-existent and we didn&#8217;t want to get caught or crushed by the trees coming down, so we didn&#8217;t get to go diving. However, there is still a ton more beer cans and other trash left by the fishermen at the bottom of the river that we have yet to get to.</p>
<p>While we were there, a photographer from the Roanoke Times took several photos of us as we worked. I had passed up picking up some trash that was in the water because I was wearing shoes but since I had all my scuba equipment with me, I put on my diving boots and jumped into the water to pick up the pieces I had missed.</p>
<p>The photographer caught me just as I was walking out of the river and they put me as their main image. Pretty cool. Check out the image below and <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/scvt-may-7-2009-river-cleanup.pdf?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog">download the PDF for the full size</a>.</p>
<div id="attachment_607" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 482px"><a rel="attachment wp-att-607" href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/scvt-may-7-2009-river-cleanup/?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=blog"><img class="size-full wp-image-607    " title="scvt-may-7-2009-river-cleanup" src="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/scvt-may-7-2009-river-cleanup.jpg" alt="SCVT May 7, 2009 River Cleanup" width="472" height="536" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">SCVT May 7, 2009 River Cleanup</p></div>
<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/">River Clean Up and the Roanoke Times</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='New River Dive'>New River Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/19/photos-of-the-week-419/' rel='bookmark' title='Photos of the Week (4/19)'>Photos of the Week (4/19)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/19/claytor-lake/' rel='bookmark' title='Claytor Lake'>Claytor Lake</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">scvt-may-7-2009-river-cleanup</media:title>
			<media:description type="html">SCVT May 7, 2009 River Cleanup</media:description>
			<media:thumbnail url="http://www.mikeziray.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/scvt-may-7-2009-river-cleanup-150x150.jpg" />
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		<item>
		<title>New River Dive</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2009 12:35:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scuba]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crawfish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crayfish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[river]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sunrise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tanks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=592</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We went diving in the early morning in the New River. It was early, it was dark under the water, the water was cold, but we had a lot of fun. Scott, Kevin and I diving in the New River &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/">New River Dive</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/' rel='bookmark' title='River Clean Up and the Roanoke Times'>River Clean Up and the Roanoke Times</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/08/06/first-dive-in-key-largo-florida/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive in Key Largo, Florida'>First Dive in Key Largo, Florida</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/19/claytor-lake/' rel='bookmark' title='Claytor Lake'>Claytor Lake</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We went diving in the early morning in the New River. It was early, it was dark under the water, the water was cold, but we had a lot of fun.</p>
<div class="kb-inlinePicasa"><h3><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDiving">Scott, Kevin and I diving in the New River</a></h3>
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<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/">New River Dive</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River'>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/23/river-clean-up-and-the-roanoke-times/' rel='bookmark' title='River Clean Up and the Roanoke Times'>River Clean Up and the Roanoke Times</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/08/06/first-dive-in-key-largo-florida/' rel='bookmark' title='First Dive in Key Largo, Florida'>First Dive in Key Largo, Florida</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/19/claytor-lake/' rel='bookmark' title='Claytor Lake'>Claytor Lake</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</title>
		<link>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/?utm_campaign=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_source=blog&#038;utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:38:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scuba]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blacksburg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new river]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[virginia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mikeziray.com/?p=537</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So I figured it was time for the Scuba Club at Virginia Tech to do some scuba diving and luckily I wasn&#8217;t the only one who thought the idea wasn&#8217;t crazy. With 54F (13C) degree water, but low 70s in the sun, we jumped in. The first dive lasted for only 12 minutes as we [...]<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/">First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>

Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='New River Dive'>New River Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/22/isla-fuerte-bushnell-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/22/florida-scuba-pleasure-reef-062809/' rel='bookmark' title='Florida Scuba: Pleasure Reef (06/28/09)'>Florida Scuba: Pleasure Reef (06/28/09)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/24/isla-fuerte-bushnell-laberinto-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Laberinto Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Laberinto Scuba Dive</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So I figured it was time for the Scuba Club at Virginia Tech to do some scuba diving and luckily I wasn&#8217;t the only one who thought the idea wasn&#8217;t crazy. With 54F (13C) degree water, but low 70s in the sun, we jumped in.</p>
<p>The first dive lasted for only 12 minutes as we quickly lost the other two divers in the murky water. We came back up to look for them and got caught in the current that carried us under the bridge. In 53F water, it really wears you out. We continued that dive to about 45 feet for 24 more minutes before surfacing. The only thing to note on this dive was that I found two bottles of Vitamin Water at the bottom of the river, unopened. Visibility was only a meter or two, if you had a light.</p>
<p>The second dive was a lot better as we stayed down for 41 minutes to a max depth of 46 feet. It might as well have been a night dive since it was almost pitch black. There was an eery green glow from above as the sun shown through the water, but I lost my dive buddy several times since he only had to swim 2 meters away for me to lose him. However we quickly found each other by shining our lights like a light house until we saw each other&#8217;s lights.</p>
<p>We ran into at least three catfish of varying sizes. One was a about 150cm (~5ft) in length and that&#8217;s not exaggerating. He literally scared me as he came right at me appearing within arms length from my face out of the darkness after my dive buddy flushed him out from the other side of a large entanglement of tree roots on the bottom. He swam right by me until I tried to grab him and then he disappeared faster than I knew he was gone. We saw two other smaller, but at least a meter long, cat fish who we stumbled upon. If you want to catch those catfish, I hope you have a lurer that glows in the dark, because otherwise, they&#8217;d never see it.</p>
<p>Near the end of this dive I was starting to get cold from fatigue, but that <a href="http://www.k2scuba.com/product_description.php?category=3&#038;sub_cat=22&#038;product=387">7mm wet suit</a> from <a href="http://www.k2scuba.com">K2 Scuba</a> was definitely worth the investment.</p>
<p>Everyone definitely had a lot of fun, despite the cold, but we all love diving so no one complained about the cold. We&#8217;re putting together classes for the summer in Blacksburg if anyone is interested in learning to dive. More details will follow as we hash out those details, but if you&#8217;re interested, let me know so I know how many people to expect. You know how to find me.</p>
<div class="kb-inlinePicasa"><h3><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDive">New River Dive</a></h3>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDive/photo#5324361945124251506" title="Click to enlarge. Scott setting up his side mounts."><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eqsEkioqyFI/SePu-rq9J3I/AAAAAAAAGrI/VBt78SavtLI/s512/PICT0001.JPG" alt="Scott setting up his side mounts." height="384" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Scott setting up his side mounts.</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDive/photo#5324361979799039538" title="Click to enlarge. Scott in his dry suit walking on our clean tarp."><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-96drZLfOv5k/SePvAs2EbjI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/uFhVHmsKMTc/s512/PICT0002.JPG" alt="Scott in his dry suit walking on our clean tarp." height="512" width="384" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Scott in his dry suit walking on our clean tarp.</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDive/photo#5324362011889530722" title="Click to enlarge. Kevin also stepping on our tarp."><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zcLKMYSRvsk/SePvCkZCd2I/AAAAAAAAGrU/573H__ZOBh0/s512/PICT0003.JPG" alt="Kevin also stepping on our tarp." height="512" width="384" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Kevin also stepping on our tarp.</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDive/photo#5324362037356501554" title="Click to enlarge. We weren't the only crazy ones. This team was practicing with their open face masks with coms."><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AsQVD2iwkKg/SePvEDQ1mjI/AAAAAAAAGrY/1VwXIP7rvRc/s512/PICT0004.JPG" alt="We weren't the only crazy ones. This team was practicing with their open face masks with coms." height="384" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">We weren't the only crazy ones. This team was practicing with their open face masks with coms.</p>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDive/photo#5324362061435365634" title="Click to enlarge. "><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hWyPTVXCEXQ/SePvFc9r6QI/AAAAAAAAGrc/3RzQutd3HN8/s512/PICT0005.JPG" alt="" height="384" width="512" /></a>
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						<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mziray/NewRiverDive/photo#5324362082429712114" title="Click to enlarge. Believe it or not, it actually gets as deep as 60 feet in the middle."><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SyYU-j1Y5Nw/SePvGrLINvI/AAAAAAAAGrg/3TO9lRMV7Q0/s512/PICT0006.JPG" alt="Believe it or not, it actually gets as deep as 60 feet in the middle." height="384" width="512" /></a>
						<p class="kb-inlinePicasa-caption wp-caption-text">Believe it or not, it actually gets as deep as 60 feet in the middle.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/04/13/first-dive-2009-new-river/">First Dive 2009 &#8211; New River</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mikeziray.com">Ziray Studio Labs</a></p>
<p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/05/18/new-river-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='New River Dive'>New River Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/22/isla-fuerte-bushnell-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Scuba Dive</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2009/10/22/florida-scuba-pleasure-reef-062809/' rel='bookmark' title='Florida Scuba: Pleasure Reef (06/28/09)'>Florida Scuba: Pleasure Reef (06/28/09)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.mikeziray.com/2010/02/24/isla-fuerte-bushnell-laberinto-scuba-dive/' rel='bookmark' title='Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Laberinto Scuba Dive'>Isla Fuerte &#8211; Bushnell Laberinto Scuba Dive</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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			<media:title type="html">Scott setting up his side mounts.</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Scott in his dry suit walking on our clean tarp.</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Kevin also stepping on our tarp.</media:title>
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		<media:content url="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AsQVD2iwkKg/SePvEDQ1mjI/AAAAAAAAGrY/1VwXIP7rvRc/s512/PICT0004.JPG" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">We weren't the only crazy ones. This team was practicing with their open face masks with coms.</media:title>
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		<media:content url="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hWyPTVXCEXQ/SePvFc9r6QI/AAAAAAAAGrc/3RzQutd3HN8/s512/PICT0005.JPG" medium="image" />
		<media:content url="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SyYU-j1Y5Nw/SePvGrLINvI/AAAAAAAAGrg/3TO9lRMV7Q0/s512/PICT0006.JPG" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Believe it or not, it actually gets as deep as 60 feet in the middle.</media:title>
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