life in the old lane

I took myself to dinner at my favorite saloon last night. I had a great dinner—salad with some grilled shrimp and absolutely perfect seared yellowfin tuna.

The ocean was still too lumpy for me. But, I swam around for 30 minutes in the protected area.

Also, did a “fitness walk”. And, I cooked my dinner. What I call “cooking with real ingredients”. I try to do that once a week. This means nothing from a box, jar, can, or from the “deli/prepared foods” section. Sauteed chicken and veggies. And, I managed to prepare my gift pineapple for eating using only an “Air BnB” knife without cutting myself. I appreciated the gift fruit, but I sure appreciate the papaya and bananas more than the pineapple!

After dinner – there was a little parade.

This particular parade is the Coffee Festival Parade. And now it is time for a nice cup of Kona’s finest coffee. A little piece of chocolate. And off to bed.

OK, sometimes I resist change. In 2018 WordPress radically changed the editor. I tried it. Decided I hated it. And kept using the old editor. Well, today, I am trying the “New Improved” editor again. I can always decide that I still hate it. And go back to the 2017-era editor. NOTE: THREE DAYS LATER I WENT BACK TO THE OLD EDITOR. 

Went to the pier for a swim. I decided that the ocean was a bit lumpy for my first go. So, I stayed in the protected area. I swam around some. I put on my mask and snorkel and swam around some. I put on my fins and swam around some more. Everything seems to be working as well as can be expected. Even the elderly body. Maybe friendlier conditions tomorrow.

Well, I didn’t tax the “New Improved” editor too much. So, I’ll give it another go tomorrow. Might even have some fishy photos. Or not.

The Pride of America showed up on schedule this morning. When I was walking back from Target this morning toting about 20 pounds of provisions, I ran into a nice couple from the ship. They were looking for Old Airport Beach. They were going to go swimming. I told them that for swimming they should have stayed at the pier. No, they wanted to go to a “real beach”. To swim. Well, no way did I want these people trying to swim off the Old Airport Beach. They said they really weren’t experienced ocean swimmers. And Old Airport Beach is pretty unforgiving and not worth the risk IMHO. So, I diverted them to Baby Beach. 

I promised them a perfectly safe beach that they would have all to themselves.  I didn’t want to try to direct them. I walked with them. And sure ’nuff – an empty beach. No good deed goes unpunished. That detour added a mile to my walk back from Target – with 20 pounds of stuff.

Important stuff like cheese, eggs, butter and a cheap skillet. There will be an omelet in my future. My much-loved breakfast joint is still there but the $9.95 breakfast is now the $13.95 breakfast. Sure I can afford it. But, I can make my own healthier breakfast. 

At least one Gas Station has closed since last year. And there are fewer shops. The yoga studio that was across the alley from me is gone. Replaced by nothing. Some of my restaurants are gone. Might have to go find new ones.  

After my 4 mile trek this morning, I sort of wasted this afternoon. The ocean seemed too far away. Only ¼ of a mile and one flight of stairs. But, a nap seemed like a better idea. 

As for dinner. Maybe a fried egg sandwich or maybe wander across the alley to the landlord’s Mexican restaurant for Día de los Muertos – maybe they’ll have candy skulls.

Sort of trying to get over jet lag exacerbated by old age today. Didn’t actually go in the water. Did some walking.

And some grocery shopping. There seem to be selective supply chain issues. At least at Safeway. 

Yesterday morning TSA give me a comprehensive frisking. Even looked inside my pants. Fortunately, I had a nice thong on!  The matron wanted to take me to a private area to look at my undies. But, I insisted that I wasn’t going anywhere and  I was prepared to strip right out in public. (I wasn’t just being obstreperous, I wasn’t willing to abandon all my belongings over on the XRay conveyor belt. And I was perfectly willing to strip.)

The matron is eventually convinced that I am not a hazard to air travel and I get on the plane to Phoenix. Where  I find  Free Bikini Waxing! In the airport? 

Think I am going to toddle off and make myself a peanut butter and banana sandwich and some coffee for dinner. or I could hack up the pineapple that came as a welcome gift. It’s a really nice pineapple. But pineapples are a bitch to process without a proper knife.

After being VERY thoroughly frisked by TSA at 5:30 am at DCA, the rest of the travel day was easy. Arrived in Kona 20 minutes late, but that’s no problem. That’s nothing these days. 

The condo hasn’t changed. The building is still rusting away. Not a problem for a renter. But, you wouldn’t want to be the owner.  I think they have given up trying to fix it. So, maybe no jackhammering this winter. Nevertheless, I brought earplugs. Just hope we don’t have an earthquake.

Easy to get settled in when you travel ultra-light. 

Kona is the same. Weed-scented tropical air, homeless folks, closed shops. It’s a trashy end-of-the-world sort of a place. My kinda place. I walked two blocks to the pier and 3 people said “Auntie where you been?”  For me, this is home. 

 

Well, sort of underway. I am now 4.5 miles from The Old Bat’s Cave. I needed to be underway. I was obsessing about every little thing. Really? I have gone to Kona every winter since 1992 (except for 2020). I should know how to do this. 

But, I am underway. Just finished a “picnic dinner” of cheese, crackers, and grapes from The Asylum. I was going to get a sandwich, but they looked too sorry. A friend (and what are friends for) suggested a raid on a reception that was just starting. 

There was a lot of road work. And, road work can be almost as disruptive to pedestrians as it is to drivers. But it was still a glorious “urban hike”.

From the sofa – all you can see are the trees. 

Need to be sure everything is good to go tomorrow morning. The bus to the airport leaves at 5:10. Bet that I’ll sleep really well tonight and will hate to make the 4:30 alarm. 

You know, there is a lot of world out there. Think I have the energy for one more lap around the planet? Maybe not. But you never know. 

(NOTE TO PEG: If you come looking to see “What did I take to Kona last year. I actually ended up leaving the tote behind and took the little backpack. Worked great. Little backpack does “under seat” really well.)

Or rather getting ready to get there. This is my old computer rollie bag. For the last 5 years, it has held tax returns. But it is sturdy enough to transport the heaviest stuff and a few clothes. The wetsuit etc can ride along in the shopping bag on top. (If you don’t have a car you have a lot of shopping bags) I hate concessions to old age. Trying to rejoice in what remains and not mourn what is lost.

Woe is me. Do not have enough room for both Alexa and Bose headphones.  I have never been happy with blue tooth earbuds.  I am not sure still have any. Maybe I should look. Of course, I have seen people wearing headphones around their necks like a fashion accessory. 

Our table of seven shared this dessert. It didn’t look much like a turtle. Looks more like a sea cucumber or an albino wooly bear caterpillar climbing over a rock. 

And I found this from 2019 – I believe the bats were in Cairns. 

NO MORE BATS UNTIL NEXT OCTOBER. PROMISE.

The bats made a great Halloween display. They are in an area with some air movement, so, they actually “fly” around. 

I did a little “death cleaning” today. It is an issue that needs to be approached. If after I am dead, someone is going to pitch all the contents of a drawer or box directly in the trash – why not save them the trouble and do that now? 

Also sneaking up on getting ready to go. Actually have to start getting ready to go soon. How about tomorrow morning? I am decamping to a hotel Sunday afternoon. Catching a plane out early Monday morning. 

I am interested to see if the flower-arranging crew uses the bats for one of their Halloween displays tomorrow. No problem if they don’t use it at all. I like it. Especially the little sleeping bats.

Tied up some loose ends, just making sure everything is shipshape before closing the Old Bat Cave for 56 days or so. I like to come back to everything all tidy. And the only way that happens is if I leave everything all tidy. 

And, I still haven’t addressed packing. Going to keep it very simple this year. Famous last words before overpacking.

The Asylum is celebrating it’s 35th Anniversary today. They started it off with a mournful Pachelbel’s Canon in d. It looked like speakers were assembling.  So I kept right on walking.

I am going to the fancy dinner tonight. In the Formal Dining Room. Wearing my Wranglers. Some of the residents will get their noses out of joint because of that. Pity.

I actually have a picture of Carlton and me in The Asylum ca 1993. I redid it for Covid Christmas. Still have jacket. Maybe I’ll wear it?

For no apparent reason, I updated The MacBook and both iPads to Ventura and IOS 16 respectively. I saw no reason to do it. I am not interested in cloud sharing my photos. And don’t use Apple’s email client. So, not sure what I am getting. But, I got it whatever it is. And all of the mission-critical applications seem to work. So, it’s all good.

No time for AiArt today. Sneaking up on getting ready for Kona. What do I really need to take? 

1. 1. 1. 1. Picture ID
         2. Credit card
         3. Prescription Drugs
         4. Glasses
         5. Phone
         6. Computer – work you know.
         7. Computer charger. It works for the phone too.

And that really is it. Undies, swim togs, flipflops can be gotten at WalMart. Some t-shirts and shorts from the thrift shop. A mask and pipe and fins from Jack’s Dive Shop. The rest, toothbrush, comb, toothpaste, sunscreen… pick them up at the grocery. And taking the mask, pipe and fins would save a sweet chunk of change. 

There will be books to read and beach towels at the condo. 

Really don’t need much stuff. Focus on that Peg. 

Does it get any cuter than this? 

We had a birthday tonight. The more friends you have the more cake you get. Nobody has better cakes or more fun than The Asyslum Sisters. Think most of us will be eating together tomorrow to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of The Asylum. 

Time to get ready to go.

What if nobody comes? What if too many people come? What if no one can make a bat? 

People came. But not too many. A couple of my friends helped. The art teacher seemed to think the class went OK.  Now all I have to do is string the bats somehow or the other for “decorations”. 

Now. Time to get serious about Kona.