Category: The DayBook

Somedays I just feel old and tired. Today is one of those days. So about noon, I gave in and took to my lounge chair with iced coffee. 

Went down to the pier after sunset to check out the volcano. Lots of people were there. People had folding chairs and food. Of course, there were dogs. I suspect that volcanic glow is a lot like sunsets and northern lights – it depends on the cloud cover. 

When I got back to my lodging on the alley, discovered I could see it from my lanai. But, it’s much nicer from the pier.

Thinking about being tired. Well, being rousted out of bed for zoom yoga isn’t restful. And, I did walk 5 miles yesterday. That didn’t use to be much. Maybe it is “much” now. Don’t know why I am complaining. I am damn grateful that my body has made it this far without requiring any replacement parts. Was it Mickey Mantle who said, “If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself?”

Woke up the morning to find that Mauna Loa woke up after a 38 year nap. And, that we could see it for Kona. Well, not from my house. So. Get some coffee and get out for a look. Sure enough. We can see it. Wonder if we will still see it when it gets dark this evening. 

Mauna Loa is a relatively dangerous volcano. But so far the lava isn’t endangering anything. And I don’t think we are having any real ash problems. It is cloudy today. At least I am assuming that it’s clouds making it gray. 

Other than a huge volcano erupting 50 miles away – it was a normal Monday in the village.

After finishing playing housekeeper around the apartment I went out to Old Airport Beach.

Earthquakes and volcanoes are related here in Hawai’i. The 1868 eruption caused considerable damage. As with most eruptions of Mauna Loa, the 1868 eruption began at its summit caldera, Moku‘āweoweo. On March 27th, a column of smoke was seen emanating from the top of the mountain. Some on the island reported seeing a glow from molten lava.

Earthquakes and tremors soon began to increase. The following day, March 28th, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in Kaʻū, on the southern portion of the island, causing extensive damage. A steady stream of quakes followed in the subsequent days at rates of 50- 300 per day, with at least one as large as a 6.0-magnitude.

At approximately 4:00pm on April 2nd, the great Kaʻū earthquake struck. It is thought to have been 7.9-magnitude. 

Just a little history. And a warning that it could be a very interesting week. (The 1868 eruption went down the southwest rift. The one is going down the northeast rift. That a good thing. )

Our little village may be a bit shopworn. And worthy of the sobriquet Kailua-Coma. But it is not quiet. 

I enjoyed a very lazy day. It was cloudy. But that didn’t stop the trucks from rumbling up and down the main drag celebrating. Our public high school won the state Divison One football championship last night.  Hawai’i is a lot like West Texas when it comes to the importance of high school football. 

I had a splendid day doing absolutely NOTHING. 

I made an awesome fried egg sandwich for breakfast. Has sushi for lunch. It’s 6:30 now and I am hungry. Maybe some chicken and veggies? Time to hit the kitchen. 

These are the pants I bought yesterday. Thrift shop of course. They are “capri pants”. The most unflattering pants known to woman.  However, they seem to be favored by old women and European men. For now, I have a pair. And yes they make my legs look short and fat. Which they are. They might make their way back to the thrift shop. 

I didn’t want to go swimming this morning. I wanted to lay on the sofa and read. But, I got off the sofa and went out. 

There were dolphins out. It’s against the law to actually swim to the dolphins. However, there is sort of a “stand your ground” rule. If you are very lucky and the dolphin swims by you – you don’t have to move. The dolphins stayed away from me. 

But, after swimming – I sat on the pier and watched them.

The GoPro wasn’t the camera for the job. But it was the camera I had. Just enjoy sitting on the dock of the bay. Full screen and you can just make out the dolphins. 

Took a nap this afternoon. That’s my old woman day.

No boats. But, I did my part. I went to the thrift shop and bought a fine new pair of summery travel pants. They wanted $1 for the pants. I forced them to take $2. 

Spent too much time playing with MidJourney.

MidJourney imagines 4 versions at a time. Then I told MidJourney to Imagine this image:

And A Rose.

Not real happy with any of those,

OK. Those are better. Now make #3 bigger

And it put in a beer can. A glass of red wine would have been more elegant. 

That’s 3 ships this week. The merchants must be loving it. 

I had a lovely day and am so grateful to be enjoying what I call life’s bonus round. (Remember, I am pretty sure that “life” is a computer game or simulation run for the amusement of some other beings.)

I was some what horrified by my accumulation of Kindle books and various audiobooks. I thought I had about 2000. Well, turns out I only have 1,959. They have all been put into a spreadsheet. I still have to get the authors into some of the audiobooks. I am rather pleased and figure that this will surely cut down on my mindless acquisition of yet more digital content.  

So, how to celebrate: Play with MidJourney

Running out to capture Thankgiving Sunset. 

Maybe I should have asked MidJourney to Imagine Sunset. Nope. Some things are better IRL.

But, today is Wednesday and this is the regular Wednesday ship. 

Chance of unfriendly weather tomorrow, so I went for a swim today. The water was a little cloudy and the clouds for tomorrow’s weather had arrived. But, it was still good. I did break out my wetsuit. Since I brought it – I’d best use it. And, I hate being cold. I don’t even enjoy being chilly. 

Today. Walking. Gotta keep the legs working. Swimming. Reading. Napping. Playing with MidJourney. 

I think this one is pretty funny. 

MidJourney had trouble with this one. 

Warning. Cartoon Cat follows. 

 

 

 

 

I am sure it is Tuesday. I had Zoom yoga at 0700 hours. But that is definitely a NCL ship. A little research. It is the Norweigan Spirt up from Tahiti en route to Honolulu. But it is supposed to be in Hilo today. Hilo is really a better stop for cruise ships. It is way closer to the volcano. And ships can actually dock vice tendering. But when you get off a ship in Hilo you are actually nowhere. You have to get on a tour bus. Here you get off the tender and you are smack in the middle of our little drinking village with a fishing problem. 

I have been thinking about taking a boat through the Northwest Passage. Gotta do it soon if at all. The year only 2 ships are making the entire trip from Greenland to Nome. It’s done in late August. Something fun to think about.  Climate change in action.

OK Christie. Stop right here. There is going to be a cat picture. The rest can just scroll on down.

 

 

 

Today was for chores. And, a trip to the grocery to top off the larder prior to the T-Day rush. Thanksgiving always seems like sort of culinary amateur hour to me. And, most of the traditional food isn’t really all that good, unless perfectly prepared. I am having T-Day dinner with an old friend. We are having omelets. And will be thankful that that is all we have to do. Well, maybe a little wine, store-bought chocolate. And coffee. 

The grocery is more than just overpriced chickens. It’s ensemadas!

The ensemada has absolutely no nutritional value unless you consider happiness to be good for your health. Light, buttery, and full of sugar, it is the ultimate empty carb. 

I did not buy an ensemada. These are a couple of days old. If I am going to ingest a lethal dose of sugar and butter – I want it to be just made. I allow myself one of these a year! Carlton would scarf down one every day. But he had the metabolism of a hummingbird. 

Plants watered. Laundry done and put away. Sheets done and back on the bed. Dishes washed. Trash out. Floors swiffered.  All done until next Monday. 

Walking, swimming. Taking in the monthly “craft fair”. Completely fine day. I have lost a couple of pounds according to my pants. My cardio has improved. My blood pressure is no longer in the danger zone – but that could be the new combo of meds. My legs are better. Been drinking less alcohol. But the same amount of coffee. I will most likely get run over by a bus tomorrow. But, just for today – I am doing fine. 

This little ship does the inside passage in Alaska in summer then it comes to Hawai’i in the winter. It just arrived and came up to the pier for fuel and supplies before they start “uncruising” around at 6K for 6 days per person. 

Last evening the Xmas tree was going up. Looked a little like the flag raising on Iwo Jima.

And today I spotted an eel.

The eel wasn’t coming out and I wasn’t going to go down and put my finger in the eel’s face.

The old “regular” homeless, I am rather cavalier about. They know how to take care of themselves. They know where to sleep (not on a main sidewalk), where to get food, even where to do laundry and grab a shower. But, the “new” homeless… But, by grace… that could have been me. How did I get so very lucky? 

Years ago I was friends with a homeless man here in Kona.  We exchanged paperback books. He had a modest Social Security check, he was what Carlton called a “maintenance drunk”. Meaning he was able to keep just the right amount of alcohol in his system at all times. Once a month, when he got his Social Security, he would check into my hotel. Rest up, wash up, and invite his buddies over for showers and some TV. He was always very careful not to be noticed by the “regular” guests. Carlton thought it was strange that Jim would buy me breakfast every now and then. I didn’t, it made Jim feel “normal”. I was able to return the favor by getting him into Section 8 Senior Housing. Even got the hotel to give him a spare TV. (I think they were glad not to have his business any longer.)

I have made peace with my Gmail Account. It really isn’t bothering anyone except me. I’ll just tidy it up a bit. And tell Google to delete everything 6 months after they haven’t heard from me. 

Going to go watch the sun go down now. 

Aside: One of my Asylum Sisters absolutely hates cats. Even pictures of cats. So she doesn’t need to see the adorable feral kitties that live under the building. They are well feed and not a part of any official feral cat colony. You can tell that because their ears haven’t been snipped. I am sure they earn their kibble by keeping the mice/rats in check.

When I returned from my 2.5-mile fast walk this morning the body said: Hey woman, how about showing the legs some love and giving the legs the rest of the day off? Which I did.  So no beachy images today. 

But: Making progress – 113,513 Gmail emails. That is down about 6,000. Yeah, I know – big deal.  Also, working on tidying up my collection of 2,000+ eBooks and AudioBooks. 

I made some ratatouille today. I normally use a crockpot. But, this one I made on the stovetop. I think it will be excellent. It needs to mellow out in the fridge for a day or two. So, tonight, those well-rested legs will be taking me .75 mile round trip to dinner at my favorite saloon. Maybe Steak? Fish? Burger?  Decisions. 

They are waiting for dinner to show up.