Category: The DayBook

Woke up this morning to a little rain and a pirate ship in the harbor. I have been in Kona almost 3 months – and this was the first “damp” day. I really don’t think I can call it a rainy day. It was just damp. And, a little drizzly.

I started thinking about “taxes”. I can either do my own taxes or pay someone big bucks to do it for me. I should get some backup for my tax preparation. As long as my brain works – I think I should do my own taxes. (Well, me and TurboTax) But, how will I know when I am no longer capable of doing my own taxes? And, it seems that it will take about as much work to get my stuff together for the CPA as doing my own taxes…

TurboTax and I did my taxes and Carlton’s taxes. And, Carlton checked them. I miss my checker. Come to think of it – Carlton checked everything. Me, not so much… I sort of wing it.

But, I did check on trains across America. The California Zephyr – which goes thru Colorado during the day – and the Sunset Limited – which just sound cool – are my candidates. The Empire Builder is the easiest. There is something to be said for “easiest”. Just get to Seattle. Take light rail from airport to train station. Planes arrive in the early AM and train leaves in late afternoon.

The Sunset Limited leaves from Los Angeles – you can get from the airport to the train station by public transit – but 3 or 4 transfers are required. The CZ – not sure how I would connect with it. Most likely go to Seattle and take a train to the Sacramento and join the Zephyr there.

 

I am not very happy with any of these images… I think you can click on them and make them larger if you want to be critical.

Going back home – thinking about taking the train. Well from the coast. The Empire Builder can be joined in Portland or Seattle. The most scenic, California Zephyr, can be jumped on in Sacramento. Los Angeles is where you get the Sunset Limited. At my advanced age, I can get across country for about $225. But, it is not about the money. It is about the journey.

 

Good day. Laundry. Football. Reading. Bouncing around in the ocean.

Heading back East in 4 to 6 weeks. Not sure way. Except that is where the Old Bat Cave is. And, the taxes.

 

Totally exhausted today. Every muscle, but especially the legs, is complaining. I put myself into recovery mode today. NO exercising. NO fitness nonsense. No walking upstairs. Ignore the fitbit. Got 4 miles today – just doing normal stuff – going to the farm market and the grocery. That is enough. Let the old muscles rest. And, eat enough calories.

I have no sense. I must realize that I am an old woman. I don’t bounce back as quickly.

Carlton used to tell me to “slow down”. Nobody doesn’t that anymore. I need to be responsible for my own body. Think I am going to need to take tomorrow off too.

Went whale watching up north. No whales captured in the camera. Good  times anyhow.  Came home and went for a swim.

Back at the hotel, there was no water. It is back. Now, there is no WiFi. This is coming to you via Shamu the Phone.

But, it is all good. It’s aloha Friday and no way is it going to snow.

Note to Harlene – our ocean temperature is about 75° at this time of year. That is a little chilly for old ladies. So, I usually bundle up in my wetsuit. Besides – black is very slimming.

Glad that I am missing the blizzard that is expected at home. Never mind that I live in a full service old ladies asylum. And, they will worry about feeding me and keeping me cosy if the power goes off. I would much rather go swimming in our 75° ocean than in the asylum 82° indoor pool.

 

Just some fotos from this morning’s swim. Something to think about while you prepare for “end of life on the planet as we know it” blizzard.

We found 3 or 4 flying gurnards in about 6 inches of water. They can spread those pectoral fins out in a most wonderful manner. But, these guys were just hanging out.

I, however, am sort of stuck on the surface – my wetsuit makes me too floaty to dive. But, I am warmer than Billy! And yes, we saw and heard whales today.

Don’t think we are in any danger from the cruise ship.

And all this goodness is just across the street from my hotel. Now you know why I am not in the old bat cave waiting for the snow. I’ll do that when I get “old”. Yep, I am in denial about my advanced age.

This week’s “do something new”. I photographed a new butterfly and figured out that it is an Asian Swallowtail.

I can not say that I was out seeking butterflies. I was out on a “fitbit forced march”. When I saw a big black and white butterfly. Eventually, I realized I had my camera with me and I was able to snap an image before it moved out of range. This butterfly is common in southeast asia. And obviously, we have at least one in Hawai’i. But, none on the mainland.

Went for a chilly swim this morning. Took a few mediocre photos with the $99 camera. The saddle wrasse wanted to be in every picture.

Big surf tomorrow??? Think we’ll not see big stuff over on this side of this island. Back home they are hyperventilating about monster snow coming on Friday.

In Samoa, one gets buried in a snazzy concrete cistern in the front yard. This leads me to believe that there are no real estate sales in American Samoa. Because, who is going to buy a house with someone else’s granny in the front yard. There wouldn’t be room for your own granny. Some folk are buried in what would be considered a “Carport” – in Samoa I guess they are called “Burialports”.

The Samoans seem to take being dead very seriously.

Some would say that I didn’t take Carlton’s death all that seriously. But, I didn’t take him all that seriously when he was alive either.

I presume that I’ll be getting Carlton’s ashes back from Georgetown this spring. What to do with Carlton then?

1. Sprinkle him around Hulihe’e Palace. Don’t ask – don’t tell. Carlton liked this. He just didn’t want to be in the ocean – because he gets seasick.
2. Let Georgetown put him in Mt Olivet. Carlton was OK with that.
3. See if I can find his DD214 and stash him in a Chock-Full-Nuts can in the mausoleum at Arlington. I think Carlton would be OK with this.
4. Turn him into a tree – but where – I don’t have a front yard?
5. Turn him into a diamond – no way!
6. Blast him off into space – Carlton would be seriously pissed at that waste of money. Heck, he would most likely come after my sorry ass.

And you know, it really doesn’t matter. Because – he will still be dead. And, I am not the kind of person who goes to visit the departed. Unless they are stashed somewhere really cool. Join Jim Morrison in Paris perhaps?

I survived my offline time very nicely. Walked, swam, visited, ate everything in sight, acquired more food, read, took pictures, deleted most of the pictures, did yoga, napped…

Checked out the high school canoe races.

When did I get so old? It seems pretty inefficient – just when we start to get our shit together – we die. No wonder the human race is so messed up.

Remember my 2016 Resolutions?

• Read more. Facebook less.
• Do one new thing every week – I am not too sure what I mean here.
• Have a technology free weekend every month. Even when I am in Hawai’i.

One new thing every week was the roadtrip to Kua Bay. I decided that since I am so old – I’d cut myself some slack and if I haven’t done it it 20+ years it is still a “new thing”.

And, starting at 6AM – going to 6PM tomorrow… Technology free weekend. I cut myself some slack here too. I can read books on my Kindle. And, continue to edit my images from Samoa using Lightroom on the Airness. But no Facebook, no games, no mindless surfing around, no checking airfares, no email. And, no TV. (Not like I am going to miss the ‘Skins in the playoffs)

 

Just for giggles, I was shooting some plant porn this morning – well, specifically – hala tree porn. When – geckos appeared.

I took the day off from all things physical. I only logged 2 miles on the fitbit. No swimming. Well, I did do 30 minutes of yoga.

Does anyone else think it is hysterical that Chipotle Mexican Grill has to call a timeout to discuss food safety? Tacos and Montezuma’s Revenge. How much more Mexican can you get?

And, are we having fun yet with the stock market? All the “talking heads” are telling us that this isn’t as bad as 2008. We’ll see. I have:

• My money that the money guy manages
• My money that I manage
• Carlton’s money that I am managing using Carlton’s long established guidelines

Carlton’s money is the winner in this this environment. My managed money comes next and the money that I am paying to have managed is the loser.