Author: Peg

Carrot cake, taro chips, and coffee. That’s a nice healthy lunch, right? 

Billy and I went on a road trip today to Volcano NP.  At the Entrance Station (that will be $25 please  –  thank you vintage “Golden Age Pass) there was a sign saying there was no “red lava” anywhere in the Park or on the Island. Well, we knew that – that was why we were there. But apparently, the word hasn’t gotten out that for the first time in 35 years – there is no molten lava on the surface. 

Volcano NP is a world apart. It is cold, damp, windy. But, wonderful. If you remember to wear all the clothes you own. We just checked out the Park. We did not go look at the new flows and all the destruction. The residents of that area don’t need gawkers.  

The Park Service has a simple 7-minute video that sums up the most recent eruption phase. October 2018 Kīlauea Eruption Update

Volcano is 90 miles away from Kailua Kona. So, it is an all-day trek. Normal folk wouldn’t spend all day going to see if a 200-foot deep hole in the ground really became a 1,000 foot deep hole in the ground. But, it was about the journey not the destination. 

And the underlying message to me was “do it now”. The volcano had been erupting for 35 years. With splashy flows into the ocean and a wonderful lava lake that you could – more or less – drive right up to. So, I wonder: how many people came to Big Island last year and said: “I’ll check out the volcano next trip”? 

A LITTLE REFLECTION ON BEING OLD

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So, in the spirit of “do it now”,  thanks to all of you for checking out the blog from time to time. I do the blog for me.  It is a diary. But, I am honored that anyone takes the time to check up on what the old bat is thinking today. 

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On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

This is the smallest ‘a’ama crab that I have seen. It is standing in my foot print and is smaller than my thumbnail. It could easily have been a modest size spider. 

Here is a bigger one. Usually, the ones I see are about as big as my fist.

Just another lazy day in the middle of the ocean. Walk, breakfast, walk, swim, nap, read…

and 

This is a simple model. I just learned it this year. For the last 40 some years, Origami USA decorates an Xmas tree at the Museum of Natural History in NYC. This year it was decorated with sea creatures. I made some of these for the tree. 

. . . 

On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Second: Watch George Herbert Walker Bush’s going away party. It was good. We don’t do this kind of stuff as good as the Brits – but we are pretty good at it. Everyone did good. The Orange Lord was on his best behavior. Sort of like a pouty ten year old. It must have been the longest 2 hours of his reign. 

Third: Go out for a walk and play wildlife photographer. You all know how bad I am at that. 

Dolphins off the end of the pier. They all seemed to be bottlenose and they were just lazing around – no jumping allowed.

And the little turtle that has been hanging around since I have been here was also swimming by the pier.

Then I had to mess around with a cattle egret image.

The rest of the day I just wasted.

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On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

 

Got a nice shot of my current favorite fish today. Had a fine long swim. I planned on keeping just one shot from today’s swim. But, I rather like this little damselfish with the broken urchin shell.

A LITTLE REFLECTION ON BEING OLD

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OK,  boys and girls. Even this hard ass old bat admits that this is a touching photo. And, it says worlds about these two men as compared to the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. It is a great image.

But, it makes me ask why the fuck would I want to live to 95 if that is how I am going to end up. Just because medical science can keep me alive doesn’t mean it should. If I make another 20 years I’ll be 95 like Senator Dole. Doubt that I’m in for the long haul.

Nobody is promised tomorrow. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

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. . . 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

 

This morning I became obsessed with the idea of “Trump Presidential Library”. Guess that is because the TV mentioned that Bush Sr would be buried at his library. And, since I don’t consider the Orange Lord President – it just never occurred to me that that man would have a Presidential anything especially a “library”.

Another nothing special snorkel day. So, let’s look at Cornetfish. I see cornetfish every time I go out. If I go on the left side of the pier I see the regular ones. 

But, on the other side of the pier, the cornetfish are usually yellow.

I don’t think anyone knows why some are yellow. Most are grayish with vague blue spots.

. . . 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Billy wanted to go look for seals before he went to work. So, we looked. Didn’t find any seals. But, we did find this rock graffiti. 

Came back to town. Had breakfast. Billy went to work and I went snorkeling.

Not fish pictures that were keepers today. But, I still have fish.

The biggest fish is made with wicked unforgiving paper. But, the papers are elegant. The mid size fish is made with a forgiving paper but I think I will need to press it into holding shape here with all the humidity. The tiny one is, well, tiny and doesn’t make much of a statement. Also tiny is harder for my elderly eyes and hands. I think it will be fish this year. 

A little reflection on Being old

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When you get old strange things happen to your body. You get lumpy. At least I did.  And the f-ing lumps aren’t even symmetrical.  It should not matter. Because lots worse things are in store for the old body ( and brain).  But it does. A little. It’s not like I am picking up men and bringing them up to my room. (and no dear asylum sisters – I don’t always wear thongs. Sometimes I wear regulation granny panties!)

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. . . 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Sorry, all about fish again today. But, the ocean is why I come here every winter. 

Today was “make dinner using real ingredients” day. I made rice, turkey, Brussel sprouts and  avocado and tomato salad,  Eating dinner on my lanai I decided that I don’t miss the Asylum at all. Not even the food, which is really good. Not to mention free wine nights.

And, I don’t miss the activities for sure.

This is what I am missing today and tomorrow back at the Asylum.

But I do miss my friends. And, that is wonderful. Because the Asylum Sisters turned the Asylum into my home. 

Back to my fish. I found the usual suspects.

And a big old eel. The picture isn’t very good – but it is the first eel I found this year.

And when I was swimming back in a turtle came by swimming out. There are some cave like structures near by the turtles like to sleep in.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Wiggled into my wetsuit and went out to see some fish. The glass bottom boat had the same idea. It actually hangs around “my” area. But, I can hear it. And, when we are in the same area I make a point of waving at the Captain and hustling off nearer the rocks. 

A nice big gaudy male bird wrasse. Actually the female looks more bird like. But, there were no ladies around. And, wrasses are like parrotfish. They start out as females and then becomes males.

I have a hard time getting a nice photo of this pretty trigger fish. In years past, there were not too many around. But, I see several every time I go out this year. Will try again next time for a better picture.

This is a tiny fish. It doesn’t puff itself up. It has a skeleton that is sort of boxy. It is possible that these fish also change sex. All juveniles look like females. But, no ones knows if the are all actually females. And, it doesn’t much matter now does it?

Getting hungry. Went out for dinner yesterday. So, I should dine at home tonight. A nuked sweet potato and a sausage patty or two. That should do the trick. If I were back at The Asylum I could have a small filet with that nuked sweet potato since it is Friday and Petite Filet is always the Friday Night Special. 

Guess what? I have already used up 25% of my time here in Kona. 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Billy hauled my sorry old ass out to the Old Airport this morning for a walk. But wait – there were planes on the runway. Little planes. But still planes. This are “low end” electric remote controlled planes. All but one are made out of ordinary styrofoam. One is the product of a $200 3D printer. 

Maybe some day I’ll take the real camera over and take pictures of the little planes flying around. 

Feeling old agin today. But, I still did a little walking, a little yoga, and a little swimming. My project this winter is to learn how to be old. Because this is the first time that I have felt physically diminished. Guess I am actually really grateful that I made it to my mid 70’s with a fully functional body. Now, my body and I have issues. I say “Body, let’s do this” and the Body says “I don’t think so”.

Went for a little swim and got some fish photos. 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Billy got back from the mainland so we spent the morning doing our usual knock around stuff. 

We stopped at the Kona Surf – were we sat on a bench and just watched the ocean. Hey, it’s a big ocean and it needs a lot of watching. We saw whales. Well, a couple of tails and a bunch of blows. But that was the first sign of whales for either of us this season.

The air is just great. It is just air. Plain old air. Air without a goodly dose of sulphur dioxide. An entire generation of children have grown up here not knowing that the air could be like this. Sorry that Carlton missed it. 

By noon I was back home and the ocean looked pretty good from my lanai, so

Great little 30 minute swim. When I was coming back in, my new best friends – the little school of moorish idols were waiting.

I even made a little 10 second video of them with my $99 underwater camera.

At my age, days don’t get any better than today. Thank you.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920. 

The waves today really aren’t impacting “my” area. And, I didn’t set out in time to catch The Dawn Patrol in any case. But it was still great to be out and about.

When I was coming back, I spied a japanese film crew filming goodness knows what.

And,

Have to make these balloons before COPD kicks in, because you have to blow the balloons up. The masu boxes and money hearts are my contribution to the Hotel Xmas Party. I will fill the boxes with various denominations of bills 5,10,20 and 50 and they will be used as door prizes at the party.

And then I need to come up  a model that I can use to give out as tree decorations. The box balloons could work – but they are a bit tiresome to transport. On the other hand they are real easy to make. Would have to figure out how to attach a ribbon.

Such problems. Sigh.

On a more serious note: for the last year, especially the last 6 months – I have had increasing leg issues caused by my degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. I am not close to considering surgery. But, am trying to devise a program of walking, swimming, and yoga that will help. And, I am trying to avoid NSAIDs as much as possible. Oh well, nobody every said getting old was easy. 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.