Holidays – Day 1

Time to get into holiday mode. Persons of the Christian faith are not the majority on our islands. But that does not diminish the festivities.

Speaking of festivities. How about this little old lady?

I hope things work out OK for her.

She definitely a practitioner of Nobody is Promised Tomorrow.

This old woman is tired of trying to think up “things to cook using only a microwave”. We’ll be having sandwiches until I get out of this funk.

 

Sun Returned (a little) today

Underwater Me

The sun was out for a couple of hours today before going back into hiding. I went out looking for a Xmas Wrasse. Found none, but had a nice swim.

Still thinking about  getting a Kindle. Not iPad. Not that I don’t think they are seriously cool. Not that I wouldn’t have fun with one. I just don’t want another anything to take care of. I am not about to give up my computer(s). And to me, the iPad is just another computer. A rather limited computer at that.

Kindle Touch is cheap enough to just  toss when it breaks or is superseded by something better.  I know me, if I got an iPod it would be the most expensive one available.

And, all I really want to do is read books. I enjoy having a nice collection of audiobooks always handy on the Classic iPod. I nice collection of e-books would be good. Especially in a 1/2 pound package. Especially when traveling.

Winter!

About 5PM today - at 13,500+ feet

The internet was broken yesterday evening. I think it was the stormy weather.  Anyhow, it was back by this morning so I could see – as soon as I woke up – that my equity portfolio continues to plunge.

We have had a couple of cloudy/chilly days – good for getting into the holiday spirit.

Still thinking about getting a Kindle. Not the “Fire” but the Touch. With G3 – I seem to have WiFi issues. Cost isn’t the issue. The issue is having MORE STUFF. The Touch Kindle slips nicely into the back pocket of my little “travel” purse. That is a plus. But, Michelin Green Guides, which are my very favorite travel books – do not have Kindle editions available in the US. (I am thinking that a Kindle could be a good travel buddy.)

Our Village Parade

Got a red shirt? You'll be in the parade
Live in the old ladies home - ride in the bus.
Macadam must be hell on toe shoes!
Every dog in the village is in the parade. Cats get a pass.

Almost everyone in the parade. I think there are more participants than spectators.

Holiday Season Started Today in Kona

The Hale is Decked

My holiday decorations are up. The Kona Xmas Parade just finished. Everyone in town who had a red t-shirt and a dog marched in the parade. No decorated cement mixers this year. I guess the economy is too bad to for the cement company to waste the fuel to be in our parade. There are usually 3 or 4 decorated cement mixers.

At this instant, a really loud Hawaiian reggie band doing a concert at the luau grounds across from the pier. Thank goodness for industrial strength ear plugs. Marriott owns the luau grounds now. Old Mr Marriott would not be pleased with the loud music annoying the guests at his hotel. (If I can hear it – I am sure the Marriott people can too.)

As you all know – I haven’t had a really good night’s sleep in over 10 years. I stopped fussing about it. Or even worrying. There will be plenty of time to sleep when I am dead. Last night – I enjoyed my non-sleep time by watch a total lunar eclipse of the full moon. Splendid way to spend the night.

aloha friday

Our Staff - It's Good To Have Staff

Today, I swam over to sneak a peak at Paul Allen’s house.

Paul Allen's House

The ocean wasn’t as calm as I’d like – so I didn’t swim any closer. I wouldn’t want to get swept into his property. He has his own deep water access. But, his boats are all too big to use it. I hope Mr Allen comes to spend Xmas week again this year. He has cancer – so I hope he is able to continue to enjoy his toys and houses. Nobody is promised tomorrow.

Nobody is promised tomorrow

Yellow Tangs

When it is time to go – go peacefully in to the good night. How Doctors Die

Thinking about Cape Town, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo for my round the world adventure. That should rack up some frequent flier miles!  Or so I don’t leave Mr C Home Alone too long – I might leave off Cape Town and Dubai and just wander around Asia.

The donated fins seem to be working fine – I’ll schlep the Wal Mart ones back soon.

Little Drinking Village With a Fishing Problem

The Fishing.
The Drinking

The halalu are still running. Fisher people line up from dawn til dusk.

Halalu, the juvenile akule or big-eye scad, run around 4 or 5 inches and school close to certain beaches which receive freshwater from streams emptying into the ocean. Kailua Bay doesn’t have any streams. But, it does have many fresh water springs. And the storm sewers empty into the Bay. Guess that works for the fish.

Most fisher people can catch 100 – 200 of these little guys. They are deep fried and eaten whole. Bones and all. They are also used as live bait. Speaking of bait. None is required. Just a tiny hook. Some folk add a sliver of green plastic to the hook.

Sleeping with the fishes?

Looking a little dead ...

I went to see Santa yesterday. I look a little dead.

Logged five miles walking today. No swimming.  Have a whole list of little mephitic duties. Will spend the rest of the day knocking them out. The hardest is done. Now on to estimated taxes and transferring (stealing) Carlton’s Delta frequent flyer miles.

Thinking about travel. 2012 might be my year for the round the world trip. I don’t want to wait until I am too old. Nobody is promised tomorrow. But, I don’t like leaving Carlton home alone too long.

A Few Ads From the Local Paper

Honl's Beach

Cloudy day today. A good day for surfing but crappy day for snorkeling.

It is hard to rationalize spending 50 cents on our local dead tree paper. But, the classifieds are always amusing. For example:

Retired "gentleman" ... yeah right!

And how about these:

This is a island with 408 miles of roadway. Why can't the police find this thing?
This must be the worse job on the island. Spoiled rich person wants house slaves.

Another Day

Mantis Master of the Universe

As you can see, out hotel is not very crowded. The hotel gardener and the occasional large insect or gecko are our only neighbors on the 3rd floor.

I took the donated fins out on sea trials today. They don’t seem to be any better or worse than the Walmart ones. The Walmart ones might be going back.

Great article The Strange Birth and Long Life of Unix.

Time to cook dinner. The food goddess provided  mahi mahi today. Plus 4 huge avocado and some tangerines. How about nuked mahi mahi  with a ginger sauce and rice, also some sort of avocado and tangerine salad?

Replacements

Last look at the beloved old fins.

And now I have replacements….

New Slippas, Donated Yellow Fins, Wal Mart's Finest Fins

Now have replacement slippas, a new pair of Wal Mart fins (the lost pair were from Wal Mart) and a donated pair. They all require some breaking in or getting used to.