life in the old lane

Been thinking about the death of my $99 underwater camera. I think I’ll get another cheapass underwater camera. Why?

1. I can afford another camera.
2. Taking a camera swimming with me just makes it more fun. And fun is good.
3. Why not get a housing for my DSLR? I would if I was still a diver. A DSLR in a housing is serious overkill when snorkeling. Also, the housing for it would cost more than $1,000. And, WHEN it floods it will take an expensive camera and lens with it. 
4. An action camera – i.e. GoPro – or a conventional point and shoot underwater camera? Conventional PS camera. I am not an “action” person anymore. But, more important – I am just not a video person. So, if I got an action camera – most of the time I would use it to take still photos. 
5. So, I think I’ll get another cheapass underwater camera.
6. Stay tuned. 

Note to self: This was a fine breakfast. Make it again. I could be lunch or dinner too

Break one egg in a bowl. Put half an English muffin or slice of bread on top. Nuke 60 seconds. Flip out on a plate. Top with avocado and/or salsa. Sort of like “French” toast. You could also toast the muffin/bread. Then it is more like Eggs Benedict. 

 

Went on a swim today. And I found a cleaning station. The little yellow and purple fish is a cleaner wrasse. Other fish come by for a little fishy spa treatment. 

A bummer – the $99 camera flooded today. Just a little flood. It will dry out and be useable – but it’s ocean going days are over. With underwater gear, it isn’t a question of IF it will flood. But WHEN will it flood.

Needless to say, I am doing a little “window shopping” for a replacement. 

The ubiquitous hibiscus is problematic for me to photograph. Sort of like the trouble I have with irises.

Anyhow, this is one of the seven hibiscus that are native to Hawai’i. There are plenty of hybrid Chinese hibiscus for me to use for practice. 

Happy things: Goodness knows we need them.

1. I got a fine heavy silk dress at the thrift shop for 25cents. Well, actually 25cents was the asking price. I insisted on paying 50cents for it. Today, I washed it in my sink and hung it out on the lanai to dry. It looks great. It says “dry clean only” – well that wasn’t going to happen. And, 100% silk. That is it for labels. Not even any indication that the makers label had been removed. There is a tiny metal star where the makes label should be. Very curious. Good fun for 50cents.
2. I have a folder on my computer desktop named “happy things”. In it are things that make me happy. This makes me happy. It is so totally Hawaiian. https://vimeo.com/124639655 it is a little iPhone video of a bunch of guys singing the Doxology in Hawaiian. To me it isn’t a religious thing. It is a music thing. Feel free to add religious to it. 

Had a nice early morning swim. Then I spent the rest of the day doing paperwork-type stuff. I am not really on vacation here. So, stuff still has to get done. Investments need monitoring, bills need paying, etc. etc. 

Also, I was a little tired and decided that some physical down time was a good idea. 

One of my Canadian friends, a man who comes for about a month every fall, arrived yesterday. He lives in Vancouver. He and his wife escaped from East Germany. He reminded me that Hitler did not take over Germany. Hitler was elected, fair and square. Another point he made was that “Walls Don’t Work”. He used himself as proof. And, slightly self serving, he pointed out that walls just insure that the best, strongest, smartest people get in. Sick people can not jump fences, old people will not take the required chances, etc. 

Still thinking that the US is becoming the laughing stock of the planet. Oh hell. Oh well. 

Got up at O-Dark-Hundred and went to look at the super moon set. But, no good shots. The not so super sun rose and overtook the moon as it was making it’s super dive into the ocean. Yesterday would have been a better day. But, you shoot the moon you have. This was just a test shot and it turned out to be my only shot. 

Thanks for the monopod, Trudie.

After a 900+ calorie breakfast with friends – it was time for a nice long swim. Took the much maligned $99 camera.

These guys are cute and very common.

This handsome butterfly is very common in French Polynesia – but seeing one in our waters is special.

These guys are sort of our local fish. I think we have more of them than the other islands.

And, finally… I have been seeing lots of eels recently.

And, thanks to everyone who sent kind greetings yesterday. I am glad to have that done. And, when my time comes… or if anyone wants to visit Mr C… the coordinates are:

19°38’21” N 155°59’40” W

Remember boys and girls: Science doesn’t care if you believe in it or not. 

Carlton and I went for a walk along the seawall this morning. I came back alone. 

I decided that he would be happy by the seawall. When the tide is in, turtles frequent the area, nibbling on seaweed. 

I was sitting on the seawall wondering about the location when an eel comes out of the rocks and takes several “running” jumps out of the water and onto the rocks. I have never seen such behavior. Then it swam away. Took this as a sign that the location was suitable. 

RIP Mr C, after 2 years, 1 month and 10 days… But who is counting. a hui hou

Back at the Asylum, this sign appeared in the Dining Hall shortly before I left.

I am happy to report that no such problem exists here in Kailua-Kona.

Pretty normal day. I resupplied my kitchen. (See avocado) and headed out for a swim. Decided to swim over to the Palace and try to hassle my friend Billy while he was working.

I used to do that to Carlton, but he was always worried about me being so far out. It isn’t that far. But, you have to understand – Carlton couldn’t float. He was sort of like a shark, he had to keep swimming or he would drown. Intellectually, he understood that – especially in my wet suit – I am very floaty. But, he still worried. 

Along the way, I found a couple of big-ass eels. And a fine little flounder.

The flounder – like me – was out for a little swim and he/she kept increasing the size of its black spots as we were swimming in an area with lots of little black wana (sea urchin). 

Funny thing – during last night’s parade – This is Kona – of course there was a queen or two.

And, the parade announcer was giving this girl’s bio – seems that she wants to be a “personal chef”. Well, I almost burst out laughing – in my experience – that came along with the title “wife of”. 

Speaking of personal chef – time to go round up some dinner. Something with avocado? 

Not much that one old white woman can do. On the other hand – you can not do very much TO an old white woman either. Which makes old white women pretty powerful. 

Of course, when you are my age – people might just think you are keeping your bra strap in place with the safety pin. 

Bet that The Donald is having a serious case of buyer’s remorse right about now. Wonder how long he will last. Will he stick long enough to light the national Xmas tree? 

End of the political part of the blog.

Took photos of surfers today. Only one picture of a girl. 

I have a monopod. But, I didn’t take it. 

Later in the day – I did remember to take the monopod out to the “Coffee Parade”.

Faithful visitors to the blog will recall that I haven’t been able to “read” for the last 3 or 4 years. Well, my reading ability seems to be returning. I am beavering my way through a scholarly dead tree tome about Kamehameha III. I can do 30 or 40 pages a day. And, I am reading a Dan Brown book on my Kindle. For a couple of days, I had to set a timer and read for 30 minutes. But, now I find myself just picking it up and reading. Like a normal person. 

 

I am better today. Yesterday, I was mostly stunned. I kept mindlessly looking around on TV and online. Haven’t a clue what I was looking for.

Then I read Michael Moore’s 5 point call to arms. Which didn’t do a whole lot to make me feel better. But, late yesterday evening – I happened on Garrison Keillor’s op-ed piece from the Post. I know it was humor/satire – but it made me feel better. I am so one of his liberals. 

So, humor restored… I remembered that during the Republican primaries I frequently said that The Donald wasn’t as scary as Mr Cruz. And, I am hoping that turns out to be true. 

As for the protesters… I am not with them – I will be as soon as an injustice occurs. But, not yet. Our side just lost and lost bad. I sure hope all those protesters actually voted. But, I doubt it. Seems like the young people finally woke up. Just a little too late.

And, today, I am thinking about what I can do.  I can start by increasing my donations to social service groups.  I just have this feeling that there are going to be too many people falling through cracks. Or abyss. 

And the BBC just said that Leonard Cohen died. Will 2016 just get over already. 

There has been a “great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.”

I hope I am wrong about how bad this is going to be. I hope my apolitical friends who say it doesn’t matter who wins are right. 

I feel like I have been run over by a small truck. I fear that I’ll not live long enough to see this fixed. We survived, just barely, Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. We survived Warren G. Harding – maybe Florence really did kill him. I always hoped that urban legend was true. But can we survive this one. In 71 days – he gets the keys to the nukes. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU VOTED? 

Just remember, boys and girls, that Secretary Clinton won the popular vote. The majority does not rule – but it is right. 

I hope that today ends well. Really. 

Thank you Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Went out with my friend Billy this morning. But first we fortified ourselves with bacon, eggs and kona coffee. Lots of kona coffee. Whatever happened to Mom’s old “No Swimming for 2 hours after you eat?” 

Finally, after 50 minutes – we head back and – when we are in a foot of water – a big old flounder comes swimming by – these boys are masters of disguise. 

I am working hard at getting my life back from the Energizer Bunny. On the reading front… I am reading “Inferno” by Dan Brown for fun and I just started “Kamehameha III: He Mo’olelo no ka Mo’i Lokomaika’i” by P. Christiaan Klieger. This is a dead tree book and it has footnotes. Also the author is overly fond of his vocabulary. Nevertheless – Kamehameha III was an interesting dude – I’ll make it though 1/2 a chapter a day.

So, today… a little walk, a lot of breakfast, about an hour in the ocean, some yoga, zen sitting for awhile, now back to reading – “Inferno” – and lounging around. Maybe I’ll even worry about the election. Or wonder if the surf will come up tonight. Surf trumps the presidential election any day here in Hawai’i Nei.