Or, if you think you are having fun, you are having fun. Went out to enjoy the last little bits of my time in Kona and discovered 6 visitors and 3 rented kayaks. They were not paying attention and ran their kayaks into the rocks. All six of them ended up in the water. They lost paddles, shoes, and all 6 phones. The paddles and some of the shoes floated. The phones sank. No real serious damage. Except we now have 6 young adults on vacy sans phones. And, it’s Christmas and Weekend. Most likely hard to replace here in Kona.
Imagine Over-the-top Christmas Scene Style Thomas Kinkade.
I rejoyced when the Thomas Kinkade shop in Kona went out of business. And now. Thanks to Ai Art – I can make my very own dreck art. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
The snow that fell on Mauna Loa is still visible from the village. I took that shot on my way back from the Salvation Army Thrift Shop. I decided that my cotton travel pants might need a little help if I end up outside for too long in the anticipated arctic blast. SO, I got a pair of leggings/yoga pants to use as a base layer. Have enough layers for the topside. Good to go clothing-wise.
Where the dolphins were.
Finished up all the food today. Down to just coffee and 3 granola bars. Figure I have 2 breakfasts, and 2 dinners left. I don’t like throwing food away. So, I’ll get stuff as needed. One meal at a time. Or eat out.
A serious case of “Whatever happens is what I planned”. There were dolphins here too,
Right before the kiddos came over, it was the Annual Boat Parade. Kona is not a big Boat Parade village. Kona likes real parades.
I think that the boat paraders have more fun. I am pretty sure they were enjoying adult beverages.
Once again is the traditional Bethany/Combs Solstice greeting.
Wishing everyone the best of the festive season – no matter what it’s called at your house. In pagan traditions, the solstice is a time to put away the things of the old year and look forward to the new. One observance of the solstice involves extinguishing all the fires in your home before midnight on the eve of the solstice and lighting a new fire the next day. This probably won’t be quite as symbolic if you have central heating. Or if you are in Hawai’i.
The winter solstice falls on December 21 – the word solstice means “sun stopping.” The winter solstice is the day on which the sun reaches as far south of the equator as it gets, and is as such the shortest and darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The solstice marks the rebirth of light for the coming spring.
The winter solstice also marks, among other things, the druid festival of Alban Arthuan – a time for bestowing gifts upon those less fortunate than ourselves. Out of this observance has grown the more popular tradition of gift-giving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, maxed-out credit cards, and 70% off sales. May the goddess be with you during this season – but don’t blame her if you get fruitcake again.
Carlton and I did not celebrate Xmas. But, we did observe the solstice. Summer and Winter.
GRATITUDE
I am grateful for that which I have.
I am not sorrowful for that which I do not.
I have more than others, less than some,
I am blessed with what is mine.
Lots of water moving around out there this morning.Not many people out swimming this morning. You gotta hope he made it back.
This morning I knocked everything off my going home 2do list. (Until the Friday evening/Saturday morning stuff.) Where I swim, it really isn’t safe to swim for a couple of days after a big storm. Storm drains and sewers can not handle the water. Just like you don’t eat yellow snow, you don’t swim in brown water. So, I forced myself to behave by mailing my wetsuit, mask, and snorkel to Castle Covid AKA The Asylum.
Also, if I run into travel difficulties – I’ll have less crap to wrangle.
Green Parrot in Mango Tree
Our resident flock of green parrots survived the storm nicely. As did their favorite mango tree.
Today is like the day after a hurricane passes through. All sparking and clear and clean and blue with the sound of leaf blowers and chainsaws.
This is the Winter Solstice Eve. I leave you with 90 seconds of ocean.
It really rained this morning. It rained until about 2PM. The rain stopped.
The bay and sky are “interesting”.
It is 4PM now. I went out for a little walkabout. But, I don’t think that we are over this yet.
Notes from our weather advisory:
Dangerously large breaking waves of 30 to 40 feet.
.Flooding in drainages, streams, rivers, roads, properties, and other low-lying areas. Public road closures possible in some areas. Landslides are possible in steep terrain.
West winds 50 to 80 mph with localized gusts over 120 mph.
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS OF LARGER.
An altogether great day to lounge on the sofa and read a book and drink coffee. The wifi went out for a while. And I am sort of scraping the bottom of the larder. Not too worry, I have plenty of coffee. I got a lot of stuff ready to go back to The Asylum today.
Don’t think I will venture out for dinner. The wind is picking up and it is still thundering. Think I’ll finish up my last eggs tonight.
Egg’s did not happen because as soon as I wrote that sentence the power went off. And it rained. Also thunder and lightning. Oh yes and hail. I waited a couple of hours and decided that cottage cheese and pineapple was dinner. Being a well prepared old woman, I have a flash light. One that isn’t a part of my phone. So I went out on a scouting mission. I discovered that Starbucks has power, and I think the grocery stores do too. So, I have a plan for tomorrow morning if I am still in the dark.
I have a plan to get my ass back to The Asylum. My action item for today was Do Nothing. I did that very well.
Noted that I have 309 unprocessed new photos. I didn’t do anything about that either.
I did manage to buy 3 “new” scarves at the thrift shop this morning. I allow myself unlimited scarves and earrings. Everything else is pretty much on the “one in/one out” plan.
Last evening’s walk reminded me that time is running out for Hawai’i 2022.
We covered 50 miles by car and 5 miles on foot according to Google. I don’t think the 30-somethings cut me too much slack. I didn’t wimp out or have to play the old card. But I am very happy to be tucked up in bed this evening.
Made it to our hotel in volcano national park. It’s very peaceful because both of the volcanoes stopped producing lava. Wi-Fi is nonexistent. Cell is OK.
As expected it’s cold. But there’s a heater. It will be fine. Whatever happens is what I planned.
