Author: Peg

 

The tsunami was just a warning. If you didn’t happen to be awake in the middle of the night – you missed it. I was awake. And for sure I didn’t go to sleep until “they” decided that there wouldn’t be a tsunami. So, I had a really great nap this afternoon!

Here are my packing options. The old 3 pound backpack. And the much newer 4.5 pound wheelie bag. Strange problem. The backpack is much smaller but it isn’t 100% carry-on legal. It is 3 cm too wide. As I said – it is very old. It is very sturdy. If need be – I can check it. It is nicely water proof. We have been together on lots of adventures. 

A couple of years ago – as a concession to my advanced years – I picked up a really funky rollaboard at REI. It is totally carry-on legit. As long as I keep it under 14 pounds. 

Don’t know which one will go to the antipodes. 

Brown cotton wide leg pants. These will be my traveling pants. Don’t think they will be too hot.  The problem will be if they get wet. Not quick drying. Next, men’s O’Neill Hybrid board shorts. These are about perfect. Have no clue why they can not make women’s pants as good as men’s pants. And finally, a black skirt.

Blog update using elderly iPad. Photo taken with Pen F, note to self: use Snapseed vice Lightroom for post processing.

Blog update by Shamu the Phone. Photo from the underwater camera.

Time to start at least thinking about packing. So, I decided to start at the bottom. Shoes and socks. I need a couple more pair of wool socks. But, I figure Australia is next to New Zealand. And New Zealand has LOTS of sheep. So, it stands to reason that Australia will have wool socks. So, first adventure of the Australian Adventure Before Alzheimer’s will be to score socks in Melbourne. 

In all my years of chasing fish around Kailua Bay – this is the first red Hawaiian Bigeye that wandered in front of my lens. They aren’t uncommon. But they are nocturnal. So, I usually only see them snuggled up under a rock. Guess this guy was having trouble sleeping.

Lavender Tangs also come in brown. I think, but am not sure, that they are brown as juveniles and turn lavender when mature.

My January Resolution was to “Do yoga everyday”. I fell off the yoga wagon a couple of days ago. First day I missed the yoga app wanted to put a yoga session on my calendar. By yesterday, it sort of pitifully asked “Would you like to try to find 10 minutes for a mini session”. I decided I’d best hit the mat first thing this morning.

It was a normal bright sunny day – but sometimes B/W puts the focus on what matters. 

The marchers were very polite – always making space for cars that wanted to turn. And, most of the cars gave a honk of support. We gotta keep this spirit going.

Had a very lazy day today. A little photography, a little laundry, a little napping. 

I have been playing around with updating the blog sans Forbin. But, the biggest problem might be the lack of wifi or cell for at least ½ of the trip. But, hey, that is good too. A forced digital detox. 

Testing blog update from old iPad. Photo taken with shamu but cropped with Snapseed on iPad and exported.

Testing updating the website from Shamu the phone. Photo taken with Shamu.

729 days until January 20, 2020. 

There in Hawai’i we are still hyperventilating over the 38 minutes last Saturday morning when we thought we were going to become crispy critters. It sort of shows that we really can not count on government at any level anymore. Don’t know what happens next. We get the government we deserve. Not the one we need. So, lets get our sorry asses to the polls. No excuses. If you don’t like the candidates – run for office. 

I even found a little movie. 

I was chilly even with the wetsuit on. I saw a fine eel – but no pictures. 

Today I sent my irreplaceable lauhala papale, (Straw hat to you mainlanders) And my new lauhala honu (Straw turtle) back to The Asylum today. The papale is too important to risk on the Aussie adventure – I am having my dorky hat sent to me here in Kona.  Funny, the two hats could pass each other in some airport or the other.

While at the UPS Store – I printed out all of my tickets and reservations for the trip. 69 pages. I wish I didn’t have to print it all out. But, sometimes a piece of paper just works better than an image on a cell phone. Not sure how good cell/internet will be. Not to mention keeping things charged up. So. good. old school paper.

Speaking of old school. About teens and Tide Pods. WTF? In my day we did sensible things. Like drag racing on public roads. Oh and what about playing car “chicken”? And, we fervently  hoped that Coke (the beverage) was an effective spermicide.

Actually, the needle fish look lots better in person. 

Plan B for Me. Except for health insurance – which I didn’t have for 25 years – and car insurance – which I still have – never mind that I don’t have a car. I don’t actually believe in insurance. As in: I am betting I am going to die and the insurer is betting that I am going to live. And, I am hoping that the insurance company wins.

Into my cheery irresponsible world comes reality. I know a woman who was medivaced from Alaska to Maryland a couple of years ago. She was with her husband and he was able to organize and pay for the evacuation. They were on a cruise.

And, a friend is currently in the ICU here on Big Island. She was on holiday in South East Asia. I don’t know what happened, by 5 days into the trip she was back here in the ICU.  She might have gotten herself back on a regular flight. I don’t know. She was solo-tripping.

So, my Plan B is a membership in Global Rescue. It doesn’t pay for lost luggage, missed flights, medical expenses. All they to is get you back home. These guys will go get you off of a mountain or out of a jungle. If you have a satellite phone. I felt deprived. I didn’t have anything to put is the Satellite Phone box. 

I was planning on leaving Forbin the Computer here in Kona. Then I wondered. What if I get shipped back to the Asylum. What would happen to my computer. As if that would really matter. But, hey, indulge me. 

Thought about shipping Forbin home before I leave for Australia. I don’t feel 100% comfortable shipping my computer. But, here is Forbin’s Plan B. I leave it here. Along with my address and $100. Then if I don’t show up to collect the computer – a friend can take it to UPS and they will pack it up and send it back to the Asylum. 

Now, isn’t that mature? And, I still might take Forbin with me. But, I am trying to make this a seriously downsized trip. (Take money, memories and photos. Not stuff.)

Went to the Old Airport for sunrise and a little walk. Then Billy and I went to breakfast. After that, I finished up my walking and started organizing the paperwork for my trip. Plan on stashing all the documents in Dropbox. But, I will need hard copies as well. So, I am knitting all the docs into a PDF. And, I’ll print it out. 

We may have a fashion emergency. Got this email today about one of my trip venues: “…and perhaps something a little more special for dinner. For ladies, relaxed evening wear…” Well, my idea of evening wear (relaxed or not)  is my nightie. 

Still much handwringing and general grief out here about the Nuclear Oops. I feel sorry for the guy who accidentally sent the message. Even after being asked “Do you really want to send this message.” The guy apparently realized what had happened 3 minutes later when he got the message on his cellphone. First, what was going on during those 3 minutes. Second, is there one among us who hasn’t clicked “yes” – when asked “Do You Really Want To Delete This?” And as soon as the click is recorded  “FUCK”…  

Sort of a lazy day for me. It was 4PM and I was short on my miles, hadn’t done yoga or been for a swim. I sent myself out to finish up my walking. 

Last night, the power went out here in Kailua-Kona. I slapped on my headlamp and the only inconvenience was I couldn’t make a cup of tea. But, it has been a hard few days for the hotel front desk. We had the nuclear attack thing in Saturday, and the hotel hot water went out, the hotel’s fire alarm system went off and last night – no power.  And no cable for 3 days. The nuclear attack and power failure were not the hotel’s fault. But, still the guests all end up at the desk. 

Time for a shower and some dinner. And some serious resting.

Oh one last thing – there is this strange old website – by old I mean it was around in the last century and hasn’t been changed. 

Conelrad – remember that?