Guess I shouldn’t complain about only having 4 weeks left in Kona. In fact 4 weeks from right now – 6:30 PM – I’ll be scurrying around doing last minute stuff before heading out to the airport to wait for my plane that leaves at 11:30 or some such ungodly time.
Great yoga class this morning. Hard. But good. The teacher forgot his keys to the yoga room, so we had our class on the luau stage overlooking the ocean. Best yoga venue ever.
We have very choppy lumpy seas this afternoon. I went out and just floated around on my back. It was grand bouncy fun. The ocean was empty. Not good for swimming or snorkeling. Or surfing or diving or kayaking. But it was fine for wallowing.
Sport Report for Carlton. And this afternoon with less than 30 seconds and 18 inches – the sun went down on Paul Allen’s Super Bowl hopes. The Patriots won. On my morning 5 mile walk this morning, I saw ZERO Patriots jerseys but MANY SeaHawk shirts. Guess there are a lot of unhappy fans in the village right now.
You would have hated the ads. They were very “preachy”. Or self congratulatory. Or both. Neither of us fit into the modern touchy feely, kinder gentler, politically correct world. But, I guess that is a non-issue for you. I still have to tread carefully. Remembering that I am an ethical/moral dinosaur.
Tennis: Serena beat Sharapova and Djokovic beat Andy Murray at the Australian Open.
Golf: Tiger went 12 over at the Trash Collection tournament in Phoenix. For now, he seems to be toast.
Absolutely glorious day today. No vog. The ocean was clear as “water” and like glass. And, later in the day, nice surf picked up for the surfers amongst us.
I did my normal “long” snorkel run this morning. I was swimming back in and thought “Shootz, get back out there. It doesn’t get any better.” So, out I went.
This young girl was very good.
After that I got on the bus and went 7 miles down the road to a hula contest. Yes, boys and girls, in Hawai’i hula is competitive. One does not boo the opposition. But, one does yell and shout encouragement to the dancers. We tell our visitors that hula is “sacred”. What must they think if they end up at a hula contest and discover people whooping at a dancer who executes a powerful and usually sensual move well? Good fun. But, it was indoors. And, indoors was not where I wanted to be today.
So, out I went and discovered STRAWBERRY MOCHI!!!
Strawberry Mochi
I love this Japanese treat. I told you all about them back in November.Check it out.
Note to Carlton: Your buddy Craig is going to take me paddle boarding after work someday soon. No, not standup – old school paddle boarding. Haven’t done that in 40 years. We’ll see if it happens and how it works out. Stay tuned.
And now, I am going out to see if the sunset is as glorious as the rest of the day. I am thinking not. But, you miss 100% of the sunsets you don’t go look for…
I was at the (old) airport when the ship came in. Holland America’s Veendam and the Kona Aggressor – a live aboard dive boat.
Not Sharks!
When I got back to the dock the tenders were coming in. With an honor guard of dolphins.
Bottle Nose Dolphins
They were our “big” dolphins. Bottlenose Dolphins.
I am a well known nerdy introvert. Well, this old woman went for a walk and coffee with a friend early this morning, then I went to say ByeBye and Aloha to friends from Canada who are going back home tonight. Finally I had a late lunch with 3 other friends. That this is pretty damn sociable for me. And that is how it is now 17 weeks into widowhood.
Carlton liked to say that I was the “brains” in our little family. And, I said that Carlton was the grownup in our family. Today, I tried to be grownup.
First, I stopped fussing around trying to figure “interesting” ways to get back to Arlington. I wanted to fly to the coast and take the train across country. Figured it would be interesting to look out the window. But, I would either have to spend a 23 hours in Chicago. Or arrive in DC in the middle of the night. Spending 23 hours in Chicago – not a problem. But, I have no Chicago-grade winter clothes. And, arriving at the DC Amtrak station at 2AM… not a good idea. Another option would be to hang out in Penn Station in NYC from 9PM until 3 or 4 in the morning. Not a good idea. So, I just got a ticket from Kona-to-Seattle-to-DC. Arriving late afternoon – Tuesday March 3. I figure this is was a “grownup” decision.
Second grownup decision of the day: I friend called and invited me to go out with some people on a boat tonight. Well, I haven’t been in the open ocean on a small boat in 35 years or so. I have no idea how sea-worthy I am these days. Common sense says – say “thankyou, but…”. So, it is a lovely, smooth a glass evening. The Pacific is living up to its name. And, I am in my hotel. I didn’t want to be the barfy old woman at the back of the boat. I just don’t know. Better safe than embarrassed.
Another version. Still love that cheap-ass plastic lens.
Didn’t do much today. Walked my 5 miles early this morning. Picked up a few groceries. Thought about getting plane tickets home. Just thought about it. Don’t do anything. Went for a nice swim and read a “kindle” under my favorite coconut tree. And watched the unfolding blizzard on CNN.
This absolutely HUGE bee is completely harmless. At least as far as stinging goes. It is common in Polynesia and was first recognized in Hawai’i around 1874. It does munch it’s way thru wood, but earns it’s keep as a pollinator.
At the Fish Hopper
These guys have taken “umbrella” drinks to a whole new level. No, I did not have one (or two). I had good coffee and French toast. I would never have such a silly drink. But, I have seen people order them. And they cost $25. Each.
Hale Halawai
The waves have receded from “life threatening” to “fun size”. And, once again, the dolphins dropped in to the frame.
The dolphins were waaaay out.
Watching the weather forecast for back home way. Lucky I resisted the temptation to leave early.
Got lots of various fruit – fruit salad is on tap for dinner.
Up at the Old Hilton – I found the luau fire dancer practicing. But, no fire.
Hey, I could do that without the fire!
AND
It really isn’t such a big deal to put a stick up next to your Nomex panties – when nothing is on fire.
But, it was still fun to watch. And the guy got a good workout in the mid-day sun. I don’t think it will catch on as an exercise regime.
The ocean is much calmer today. The waves are what our weatherman calls “funsize”.
I am hungry. Avocado and cheese sandwich is on tap. With a hard boiled egg and some pineapple. Which is what is in the fridge. But, it sounds like a fine dinner to me. Made fish, rice and pineapple for lunch. Planning on going out to get French toast tomorrow. Enough. Time to go make dinner.
Well, Carlton, I think you moved on to the next level about 16 weeks ago. It is a lovely evening here in exciting downtown Kailua-Kona. There are about 4 whales out in the bay. Two swimming north and another 2 heading south. And, from the nice puffy clouds – you can see that a nice sunset is on tap – at least over the mountain.
Neither of us believed “He/she is in a better place now” or in any kind of afterlife – but – if we were wrong – I hope it is all good where you ended up.
As for me, I am doing as you would say “just like I am supposed to be doing”. I must confess that I ended up paying $10 a month for 3 months in fees to one of your banks. When they stopped getting your social security check they started charging me $10 bucks a month. But, I figured it out and have stopped that little problem. That is my only mistake that cost any money – that I know about – so far. I think I mentioned that I got the Social Security sorted out.
I stopped writing this to have a beer and visit with my neighbors and in the while I was doing that 1/2 the lights in my room went out. Craig just came up and said “Hey, do you think this is a 5 star hotel?” I told him to not worry and come back tomorrow. Half the lights don’t work – but 1/2 of them do work.
Just now finishing up an avocado and cheese sandwich for dinner – in the 1/2 lighted room. It has been a little challenging – figuring out what to eat. I think I finally figured out that I can eat whatever, whenever and wherever I want. As long as I don’t get fat. Being not-fat still matters to me. I hope it always matters.
So, Carlton 16 weeks into my new diminished life – I am doing OK and hope that you are too – if we were wrong about the whole afterlife thing. But, I am thinking that dead is dead. Just like we figured.
