life in the old lane

Billy wanted to go look for seals before he went to work. So, we looked. Didn’t find any seals. But, we did find this rock graffiti. 

Came back to town. Had breakfast. Billy went to work and I went snorkeling.

Not fish pictures that were keepers today. But, I still have fish.

The biggest fish is made with wicked unforgiving paper. But, the papers are elegant. The mid size fish is made with a forgiving paper but I think I will need to press it into holding shape here with all the humidity. The tiny one is, well, tiny and doesn’t make much of a statement. Also tiny is harder for my elderly eyes and hands. I think it will be fish this year. 

A little reflection on Being old

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When you get old strange things happen to your body. You get lumpy. At least I did.  And the f-ing lumps aren’t even symmetrical.  It should not matter. Because lots worse things are in store for the old body ( and brain).  But it does. A little. It’s not like I am picking up men and bringing them up to my room. (and no dear asylum sisters – I don’t always wear thongs. Sometimes I wear regulation granny panties!)

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. . . 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Sorry, all about fish again today. But, the ocean is why I come here every winter. 

Today was “make dinner using real ingredients” day. I made rice, turkey, Brussel sprouts and  avocado and tomato salad,  Eating dinner on my lanai I decided that I don’t miss the Asylum at all. Not even the food, which is really good. Not to mention free wine nights.

And, I don’t miss the activities for sure.

This is what I am missing today and tomorrow back at the Asylum.

But I do miss my friends. And, that is wonderful. Because the Asylum Sisters turned the Asylum into my home. 

Back to my fish. I found the usual suspects.

And a big old eel. The picture isn’t very good – but it is the first eel I found this year.

And when I was swimming back in a turtle came by swimming out. There are some cave like structures near by the turtles like to sleep in.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Wiggled into my wetsuit and went out to see some fish. The glass bottom boat had the same idea. It actually hangs around “my” area. But, I can hear it. And, when we are in the same area I make a point of waving at the Captain and hustling off nearer the rocks. 

A nice big gaudy male bird wrasse. Actually the female looks more bird like. But, there were no ladies around. And, wrasses are like parrotfish. They start out as females and then becomes males.

I have a hard time getting a nice photo of this pretty trigger fish. In years past, there were not too many around. But, I see several every time I go out this year. Will try again next time for a better picture.

This is a tiny fish. It doesn’t puff itself up. It has a skeleton that is sort of boxy. It is possible that these fish also change sex. All juveniles look like females. But, no ones knows if the are all actually females. And, it doesn’t much matter now does it?

Getting hungry. Went out for dinner yesterday. So, I should dine at home tonight. A nuked sweet potato and a sausage patty or two. That should do the trick. If I were back at The Asylum I could have a small filet with that nuked sweet potato since it is Friday and Petite Filet is always the Friday Night Special. 

Guess what? I have already used up 25% of my time here in Kona. 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Billy hauled my sorry old ass out to the Old Airport this morning for a walk. But wait – there were planes on the runway. Little planes. But still planes. This are “low end” electric remote controlled planes. All but one are made out of ordinary styrofoam. One is the product of a $200 3D printer. 

Maybe some day I’ll take the real camera over and take pictures of the little planes flying around. 

Feeling old agin today. But, I still did a little walking, a little yoga, and a little swimming. My project this winter is to learn how to be old. Because this is the first time that I have felt physically diminished. Guess I am actually really grateful that I made it to my mid 70’s with a fully functional body. Now, my body and I have issues. I say “Body, let’s do this” and the Body says “I don’t think so”.

Went for a little swim and got some fish photos. 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.

Billy got back from the mainland so we spent the morning doing our usual knock around stuff. 

We stopped at the Kona Surf – were we sat on a bench and just watched the ocean. Hey, it’s a big ocean and it needs a lot of watching. We saw whales. Well, a couple of tails and a bunch of blows. But that was the first sign of whales for either of us this season.

The air is just great. It is just air. Plain old air. Air without a goodly dose of sulphur dioxide. An entire generation of children have grown up here not knowing that the air could be like this. Sorry that Carlton missed it. 

By noon I was back home and the ocean looked pretty good from my lanai, so

Great little 30 minute swim. When I was coming back in, my new best friends – the little school of moorish idols were waiting.

I even made a little 10 second video of them with my $99 underwater camera.

At my age, days don’t get any better than today. Thank you.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920. 

The waves today really aren’t impacting “my” area. And, I didn’t set out in time to catch The Dawn Patrol in any case. But it was still great to be out and about.

When I was coming back, I spied a japanese film crew filming goodness knows what.

And,

Have to make these balloons before COPD kicks in, because you have to blow the balloons up. The masu boxes and money hearts are my contribution to the Hotel Xmas Party. I will fill the boxes with various denominations of bills 5,10,20 and 50 and they will be used as door prizes at the party.

And then I need to come up  a model that I can use to give out as tree decorations. The box balloons could work – but they are a bit tiresome to transport. On the other hand they are real easy to make. Would have to figure out how to attach a ribbon.

Such problems. Sigh.

On a more serious note: for the last year, especially the last 6 months – I have had increasing leg issues caused by my degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. I am not close to considering surgery. But, am trying to devise a program of walking, swimming, and yoga that will help. And, I am trying to avoid NSAIDs as much as possible. Oh well, nobody every said getting old was easy. 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920. 

 

Since there is a chance of big waves, even on this side of the island tomorrow – I made sure to get a swim in today. 

Conditions were still silty, but, I went to the best possible visibility location and found some nice tangs – yellow and lavender.

Actually, I have seen more fish this year. Reasons? Well, the corals that had a massive bleaching event a couple of summers ago seem to be recovering. And, commercial aquarium collecting has been drastically curtailed. 

So, today’s activities. 

1. Drink coffee and visit with the hotel night auditor. She had a troublesome guest arrested last night. That was news to me. 
2. DIY Yoga – I decided that maybe I am too competitive for my own good. Maybe going to the millennial yoga class was a bad idea. Maybe “I’ll show those whippersnappers – the old woman can still bring it” wasn’t doing my 75 year old body any good. So, I did yoga in my room. 
3. DIY Avocado “Toast” – Since the wetsuit is still rather, shall we say, snug – decided that I should cook my own breakfast. So, I made avocado toast – without the toast. Living on the wild side – used Romaine lettuce instead.
4. Snorkel
5. Soak in tub
6. Lunch (turkey sandwich) and watch surfing on TV
7. Origami and watch surfing on TV
8. And now it is 4:30. As soon as I finish this, it will be time to go out on the lanai and read a while. 

And that boys and girls, is my exciting life. Not complaining. Feeling very grateful.  

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen,  Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920. 

 

About 200 motorcycles. For a good cause – Toys for Tots. Hence the unicorn. They do it every year. They sort of make a weekend of it. Rumble around our little village. Spend good money at our restaurants and bars. And a dozen or so spend a night or two at my hotel. 

Too much chop today for good swimming. So, I skipped the swim. When you are here for 4 months you can do that. Started on my money origami which will be my contribution to the hotel Xmas party. Farm market, breakfast, Xmas craft fair… just a lazy little Saturday.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920. 

Lovely lazy day. 

The ocean was too silty for photography again today. But, it was still grand. 

Saw no need to shop today.  If I have a nice tropical ocean, I am pretty damn happy. 

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920. 

 

Today was decorate the hotel tree day. It took less than 2 hours this year. But, I was still ready for a nice swim and a nap when it was finished. 

This morning before the tree decorating, DOLPHINS!

And, the dolphins are one of the reasons that I lugged the “real” camera over here. 

Had a fine Thanksgiving. With lots to be thankful for. Including the fact that it is 789 days until January 20, 2021. I plan avoiding all things retail tomorrow.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920. 

For me, photography is all about capturing the light. There is lots of lovely interesting light right off my lanai. 

Google just up graded the Pixel camera software to include a “Nightsight” option which is really super – if you can stabilize the phone. Young folk might not have to worry – but I am a little old and shaky. 

Moving right along to this morning. 

Had a great Thanksgiving with the hotel night auditor and a friend of hers today at noon. Since she doesn’t have an oven – our turkey was really a Costco chicken – and since Costco chickens are bestest as soon as you get them home – and since we are wise old women – we had Thanksgiving a day early.

Tomorrow morning is “Decorate the Christmas Tree Auntie” time. And, I have plenty of leftovers for another feast. (Including Costco Chocolate Mousse Tuxedo Cake!)

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. H.L. Menchen Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.