Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .
Carlton is “working” tonight. So, I took a little sunset stroll around town. Kailua town is doing more business than it was at this time last year. Its not “laissez les bons temps rouler,” but it is better.
Didn’t do much today or yesterday for that matter. Honestly, haven’t done much for the last 4 weeks.
One thing I did not do yesterday or today is shop neither online nor instore. Even here in the middle of the Pacific – Black Friday madness runs amuck…
The Java Sparrow is an import from southeast asia. It is considered a pest bird. But, if you are not growing a grain crop or concerned about native species it is a lovely cheerful little addition to the island.
Thanksgiving was good. Pork roast, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce. No pumpkin pie. I figured that Carlton would fuss about the lack of ice cream and/or whipped cream to go with the pie. Figured it was easier to just forgo the dessert course. But, it wasn’t just eating. There was football and beach time and napping.
It started raining this afternoon. So, I started on our Thanksgiving Dinner. (I prepared the green beans. Genuine grown in Hawaii green beans. We’ll be having green beans, pork roast, and mashed potatoes – plus cranberry sauce and gravy. No mean trick with only a microwave and a couple of dull knives.)
And, then I messed around with the computer – continuing my quest for perfect computer file organization. Yeah, like that is ever going to happen.
Shameless self promo – This little image won a modest contest.
Well, I just reinstalled Xmarks on this computer. I was really sad when they announced they were going out of business. But, they seem to have been revived. Its a miracle. Who says I ain’t religious?
I have a two prong plan to keep be from sinking into depression about the “state of the union”.
Life is good out in the middle of the Pacific. As long as I adhere to the aforementioned plan.
Today was the monthly street market and concert at the Palace. The band (as in marching) music at the Palace is not very good. But, there are always 3 or 4 pretty good bands (as in old time rock and roll or Hawaiian) playing on the street. One of the best groups has a space right next to our hotel deck.
The distinguished gentleman on the right is “Fred”. He is one of the homeless oldtimers. He has been around for at least 15 years. He still looks the same. No one knows much about him. The more “normal” homeless folk call him “Fred” and firmly believe that he is one of Fred MacMurray’s sons. They say he gets a monthly check from his trust fund which keeps him in Starbucks and tobacco cigarettes.
Yes, I am guilty. Guilty of computing while ignoring a lovely ocean view. This morning I was enjoying the return of internet to my side of the hotel on the deck whilst my room was being cleaned. Used the computer to capture me in the act.
Read the New York Times review of Sarah Palin’s … reality tv, infomercial, campaign ad miniseries. According to the Times “… it’s like “The Sound of Music” but without the romance, the Nazis or the music.”
Carlton watched it for about 5 minutes in an attempt to annoy me. (That is why I keep my iPod handy). Carlton decided that the fun he would derive from annoying me was trumped by having to watch it himself.
The Internet does not work in the room today. Actually the airness can not connect. The iPod connects. So this is coming from the iPod.
Today was a play day for me. Snorkel some. Nap some. Eat leftovers. And try to finish up angry birds Halloween version. Pretty lame huh?
Found some more old images to get culled and cataloged. I think I lost a year’s worth of images in the great computer melt down of early 2009.
Had some lovely avocado for dinner this evening. Added a little chicken, some papaya and a roll. A fine feast.
And, I finished my Gimp project. Got it good enough to print 5×7.
Not much happening out here in the middle of the Pacific. Which is as it should be.
My Gimp project is almost done. The Gimp does almost everything that Photoshop does and it does it for free. Now, it is a little quirky. But Free is Good. And, if someone asks you to set up stuff that goes to a printer – the press kind not inkjet thing on the desk – you can say Gee I’d love to help but I can not do CMYK images. Sorry.
Back to the project. My Hospital coworkers wanted a group picture. But, we were never able to get everyone together in the same place at the same time. So, I “Gimped” us together.
There was a ship in the bay today on its way to Tahiti. I wanted to go along. Googled the ship. Its main attraction is its library. Sounds very attractive. I am such a vagabond. If I need “assisted living” some day – just stick me on a cruise ship.
I am walking south on Ali’i Drive enjoying the view of the ocean. I look across the road to see if there is anyone I know at Lava Java. Don’t see anyone I know. But I see this young couple huddled over matching Macs. Oblivious to the view. I hope they at least enjoyed the coffee.
Better late than never… I finish culling and cataloging my photos from the winter of 2008.
On my way back towards the hotel, I stopped by the farm market. Six dollars yielded a big bunch of bananas, 6 tomatoes, 2 large papaya, and 2 chayote.
When the Restaurant and Bar next door opened before the economy tanked … mimosas and bloody marys were $7.99. After things showed no signs of getting better and the cruise ships stopped coming everyday they had the sign repainted to $5.99. Finally they gave up. You can tell how flush they think each day’s patrons will be by the price they paste over the $5.99
Carlton spotted this ad for snow tire chains – never used – in the Friday paper.
I had a lazy day today. Got some groceries, took in the Coffee Festival Parade, went for a swim, worked on culling photographs, tossed some dinner together… Because of Carlton’s silly volunteer schedule – we don’t seem to be having lunch these days. Just dinner at about 4:30. Carlton is mortified when I insist on calling it “Early Bird Special”.