Category: The DayBook

 

Every year the various units in the hotel decorate little trees. And, we get to vote on our favorite. Considering my recent illness – my vote went to the Maintenance Staff tree – n.b. they used a toilet seat as the tree stand.

Health update: I am feeling better.  Except for a little trip up the hill to mail my defective camera back and doing the laundry – I spent the day resting. And, eating a little “snack” every couple of hours. And, drinking tea. Don’t want to stress the system.

Yesterday, I wrote:

Frankly, this wasn’t the best possible day. The worse part was early this AM when my snorkel attempted to drown me….My room is a mess. Think I’ll put the computer to sleep, spend 15 minutes cleaning up my room and toddle off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Was I ever wrong – before I made it off to bed, came down with stomach flu, food poisoning, what have you… Spending quality time in my bathroom. Everything settled down a little, so I was able to go to the Holiday Tea at the Palace. Glad, I could make it because there were five no shows. I gave away all of my origami stars. Oh, the tea was lovely.

Came back home and went to bed and sleep. Woke up. Not feeling so very good. Just glad this isn’t next week, when I’ll be on my way to American Samoa. Note: the computer can be used as a makeshift hot water bottle/heating pad for stomach cramps.

I was testing my “health” or lack there of early this morning by walking to the pier – I was just able to get my camera pointed at the night heron before someone scared him off.

Frankly, this wasn’t the best possible day. The worse part was early this AM when my snorkel attempted to drown me. Well, it didn’t. And, the snorkel has been replaced.

Christmas Concert at the Palace this afternoon. And early this evening – the Second Annual Boat Parade. Yes Carlton, they have something new in Kona. You wouldn’t care for the Boat Parade. You didn’t really like parades or fireworks, and the boat parade was sort of like a combination fireworks/parade.

My room is a mess. Think I’ll put the computer to sleep, spend 15 minutes cleaning up my room and toddle off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

 

You might just be in Hawai’i if a can of Spam shows up in your Xmas Parade.

Note to Carlton: There were no cement mixers or trash trucks in the parade this year.

But, the kahili that were being re-feathered returned with much fanfare today.

Headed out early this AM to the “best” place to photograph fish. A different SD Card was in the camera. Had a fish wrangler with me. Lots of fish but after about 10 minutes – the camera freezes.

So, I get a Return Authorization from BH Photo. But wait. I still want an underwater camera for Samoa. Should I try another TS30. But, by then the sun had set in the east and BH Photo was closed until sundown tomorrow.

Question to self. Is the TS30 worth 99 bucks. Assuming I have a lemon. And, I have this little feeling that my problems with the TS30 have something to do with video. Well, after a lunch of leftovers – I wriggle into my still wet wetsuit and head out into the bay. Not many fish were I went. But I was determined to get the best possible photos out of the TS30.

Took these four images this afternoon, just across the street. There are not a lot of this in this area. But, I don’t have to pay attention to anything except the fish. So, I was sure that the shots were auto focused correctly etc. And, since I suspected video might be the culprit – I didn’t play with video until I was cold and ready to come in.

I did no processing – except color correction to the video. It isn’t very good. The GoPro made lots better quality videos. But, I am not a videographer. I can just put some duct tape over the video button. The video did NOT lockup the TS30. However, when I was looking at the video in camera – it locked up. Video still seems to be the culprit.

Bottom Line: Let the lockup problem slide. I am trying to decide if I want to get a replacement. I do not want to invest a bunch of money in a “better” under water solution. Real underwater photography takes a good camera, lights, and a super expensive housing. I’d rather spend my camera $$$ on land-based lenses for my Oly.

So, the question is: Am I happy enough with the decidedly marginal quality of this $99 camera.

The answer is yes for in ocean work. But, it is not a substitute for by Oly. The quality is not as good as my phone camera.  My Oly is “weatherproof”. I have one “weatherproof” lens. So, bad weather isn’t really a problem. If it rains too hard, there is always the ziplock bag.

The Panasonic TS-30 does not get my seal of approval. It froze during sea trials this morning. Popped the battery out and put it back and it worked again – but, not possible in the the ocean. And of my first 100 pictures 2 were only 1/2 pictures. More sea trials tomorrow. Not 100% sure there is time to swap it out before going to Samoa.

This is the only acceptable shot from this mornings sea trial. The Zebra moray – fairly common diurnal eel. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific. Length – up to 5 feet. Starts out female and switches to male.

BTW – the lack of acceptable images is not the fault of the camera. Well, except for the ones I couldn’t take because the camera was frozen. Today’s venue and conditions were not ideal for photography with a cheap PS camera.

Two 40+ year old Kahili were being disassembled in the Hulihe’e Palace kitchen this morning. I just happened to be there and was lucky to see how these “modern” kahili were made.

So, what is a kahili? In 25 words or less – “A feather royal standard for Hawaiian ali’i and Royalty” Wikipedia has a good and short discussion. Check it out for more info.

I did get some dorky reef shoes today. Figured that a cut foot would be a serious bummer. And, my really cheap underwater camera arrived. Pictures tomorrow. I hope. It is a Panasonic. I have had a bunch of Panasonic PS cameras. Nothing new. Don’t think I’ll RTFM. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find a real dead tree manual and an external battery charger. The battery is tiny. I might would like a second battery.

And, for something really scary – I updated the firmware on the Oly. I was still on 1.4 and the new release was 4.0… Lost all my settings. A good time to RTFM. Indeed, there was a new version of the the manual.

Started off the day with a great snorkel. The light was perfect and the fish huge and close. I am sure that I’ll not be that lucky when I am go out armed with a little red camera.

Time to get something for dinner – cheese sandwich maybe? And, setup the new red camera. I see that the battery is charged.

 

Very slow wifi tonight. So, no photos. Actually, I spent most of the day deleting photos. The Airness was down to 64gb free. Back up to 100gb free. 

Also, did my shopping for my trip to Somoa. I bought a cheap umbrella. That is it. Well, I haven’t completely given up on getting dorky reef shoes. I nixed long pants and board shorts. My legs are just going to take care of themselves. And, if my sorry ass is offensive, I’ll just wrap it up in my pareau. Travel light. 

Note to mainland friends – Lau Lau – you eat them. Some pig and/or fish – wrap’em up in taro leaves, tie up in ti leaves. Stem or cook in imu.

Had a nice long swim today. You know, if everyone had 30 minutes a day in the ocean – sales of Aleve would plummet.

139 cases of dengue fever on the island now. I am still not worried.

President Trump. Think about it. Terrifying.

Fine Sunday. I got my trip to Samoa mojo back today. In deed, I broke my resolution to not take underwater pictures anymore. BH Photo has a great price on Panasonic’s low end “rugged” camera. $99. Which is less than it would cost to rent a low end rugged camera. I did have to shell out nine bucks to get it delivered next week.

And, I went out and collected a few 3 ounce bottles of important potions. Bug repellent, hair conditioner, sunscreen, toothpaste, Dr Bonner’s, baby shampoo, neosporin, deodorant. My 1 quart baggie is stuffed full. I’d best not declare anything else “important”.

I still need to get some dorky reef shoes and a pair of boardshorts. Seems that regulation North American old lady one piece bathing suits are considered too revealing. WalMart will provide cheap dorky reef shoes and the thrift shop will provide boardshorts.

Bring on the enormous bats and huge crabs. Hold the packs of wild (but rabies free) dogs, please.

When going out for an early snorkel – a huge cruise ship showed up. Our little village was stuffed with happy shopping, eating and drinking visitors. Which made for a nice early Xmas present for the merchants.

 

Note to Carlton: Santa aka Mongol says Hi. He wondered why he hadn’t seen you. I told him you were busy.

OUCH. Double OUCH. Got two shots this afternoon. I am now good to go to Samoa. Well, I will be in a couple of weeks. Have to let the anti-bodies kick in. Typhoid and Hep A.

I was having a wee bit of buyers remorse about going to Pago Pago… A town with bats with 3 foot wing span, land crabs as big a a VW bug, packs of wild dogs and NOTHING to do. Suggested activities include: visiting the library and going to church. For this, I got 2 shots?

Why travel is good for old women.

• Increased sense of self sufficiency and self control. Ain’t nobody going to bail me out.
• Stepping outside of my comfort zone makes me stronger. I hope.
• I should learn something.
• I am responsible for myself – hence the shots.
• Operating on another time table – should shift my “reality”.
• Little things become more important. Things like drinkable water.
• I should become less fearful. I sure hope so, I am starting to feel a creeping fear of the unknown. A decreasing quest for adventure. I fear this is an “old age” thing. Gotta fight it. I should not be afraid of travel. Adult diapers. Dementia. Those are things to fear. Not the TSA lines. Or VW size crabs.
• It will make me appreciate “home” and it’s comforts.

The Veendam stayed late last evening and brighten up our little village nicely. It will spend a couple more days floating around the islands and then head back to San Diego.

Today, walk some, swim some, go to the hardware store for origami paper (hey, this is Kona), nap a little, make origami stars. Just another day in the life of an old woman.

I think I’ll have figured out how get the shots that I overlooked the need for for my trip to American Samoa. Safeway. I found out that they have the vaccines in stock and an online service is supposed to be sending the prescription to the grocery where I’ll go get a couple of shots. That will be 2 weeks out. 3 weeks would be better. But 2 weeks will be OK.

Went out on the lanai to check on my wetsuit and I sneaked up on the gecko. On this one, it is easy to see why they are called the “Gold Dust Gecko”.