life in the old lane

Cannot think of a single thing to write about tonight. That might be a good thing. I have nothing to complain about. Well, except maybe, the MacBook’s voice recognition software. Seems to me, that Google’s works better. So, let’s make an experiment.

Yep, the Google phone did a better job. Maybe, some sort of training is required. Because this really doesn’t work very well. But, who gets trained? Me or the software? I did not have to train the Google software.  And, I did install the “enhanced voice recognition” enhancements. Oh well, stay tuned. 

Found a fine little school of Moorish Idols on this morning’s swim. It was still a little murky. But it was still good. Also went for a nice walk. Didn’t overdo it and I stopped halfway through for a coffee. I am learning to be an old person. Learning to slow down. Stop and drink the coffee. 

Looked over my lanai after lunch and what did I see? A mongoose.  Pretty sleek looking fellow. 

According to the local paper, another couple of people on Big Island turned up the Rat Lung Worm. It’s not an extremely  serious disease, but the name just grosses me out. 

And, I guess the good news is that martial law hasn’t be declared, YET. 

“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. 

I wonder if it is correct to call these babies “moorish idols”? Seem a little like calling Brazil Nuts – N-word Toes. I am surely not going to call it a Zanclus cornutus. 

The ocean was a bit too murky when I went out for nice pictures. And I have been reluctant to swim out to my favorite snorkeling spot. I am not sure that I am strong enough. Hopefully, my confidence will return. I have been coming here for over 20 years and this is the first year that I have felt “less fit, less physically able” than the year before. It is not a good feeling. I shouldn’t surprise me. I am rapidly approaching the ¾ century mark. I should be damn grateful that the old equipment held up as well as it did for as long as it did. 

Thinking back, I guess Carlton started cutting back some when he was in his early 70s. He went from playing tennis every day to every other day. He cut his one mile up a steep hill morning walk here in half. When he died at 79 he was by no means confined to a rocking chair – but he wasn’t the energizer bunny that he had been when he was a mere boy of 65. 

Note to self. Deal with it. Nobody cares. You shouldn’t either. 

I was smart enough to keep the flash forced off today. 

I have a TV here, I could watch the news. Thinking about starting pool – when will The Orange Lord declare Martial Law? That would be something new for me. I know Japanese Americans who were interned durning WWII. I remember the House un-American Actives Committee. I remember Kent State and Bloody Sunday. But, I don’t remember Martial Law. It could happen boys and girls. It could happen.

Lounging in bed, drinking coffee and looking at Facebook when one of my friends announces that she just got back from walking her dogs and it wasn’t even sunrise. Well, I figured I should get my sorry ass moving. 

Later in the day I went for a nice swim. But, my underwater shots today were all ruined by backscatter. I salvaged some Collector Urchins.  Or Decorator Urchins. Some believe that these urchins just sort of pick up debris accidentally – like cats collect dust bunnies. Hence Collector Urchins. Others suggest that the urchins pick up debris on purpose. For camouflage, UV protection, who knows? Hence Decorator Urchins. 

Backscatter is what the white spots are called. It was my own fault. My camera’s flash was supposed to be force off. But I accidentally had it forced on. I should know better. No way I can say “whatever happened is what I planned” with this one!

Now what about dinner? Made potato, chicken and avocado salad for lunch. That about wiped out my culinary creativity for the day. Fortunately, I like sandwiches. 

Missed my morning walk today  so I went for my morning walkabout about 12 hours late. At sunset vice sunrise.

And up then I stop and wait for sunset.

My friend, Billy, leaves for 3 weeks on the east coast later this evening. He has been house and cat sitting for a while. He took me up to enjoy the cooler weather and check out view and house while he cleaned up. I do enjoy visiting his various houses. This one had two laundries. One washer and dryer in the garage for the really dirty clothes and another set in the laundry room for normal dirty clothes.

Time for dinner now. Peanut butter and banana sandwich I am thinking. Had a big breakfast. And cookies. Not exactly starving. Hummm, thinking about what is in the fridge – think I’ll make a salad with chicken, potato and pineapple tomorrow.

Can it really be Monday? It doesn’t seem like Monday. Sun is shining. Trade winds are doing their job. Ocean is still warm enough. Life is good.

This afternoon, I went for another “test”  swim. This time I took my fins. The creaky old legs did OK with the fins. Took the little underwater camera out too. I was rather cautious and stayed in pretty close to shore. As I said, life is good. 

However, a little bluestripe butterflyfish swam under my lens. They are common in Hawaiian waters. But not very common where I usually go, so, it was nice to see.

Add to that a little walking – almost 4 miles today. A little visiting. Some reading. And I clicked “unsubscribe me” from half a dozen emails that clog up my inbox. I don’t really care what is on sale at any clothing store. So, I don’t need their emails. 

Tomorrow – the most continuous election in my memory – it is just setting the table for 2020. And no matter which side wins – our nation is still loses. 

So for a little peace and tranquility – I leave you with 

 

 

I did absolutely nothing today. Only 2 miles on the FitBit. Decided that some downtime was called for. I have actually been running around like crazy all week. Some back in Falls Church and some here. 

It is my Energizer Bunny approach to life. Time to cut back a little.  I was talking to one of my friends about this yesterday. Telling her that I really wasn’t able to do as much as I could in days past. I mentioned that I am totally freaked out by doing less, cutting back, etc. She laughed at me. Said that most people started cutting back way earlier. I think there will be plenty of time to rest after I am dead. We’ll see. This do absolutely nothing day has been pretty sweet.

Did go for a little walk this morning – checked out Old Airport. In the 8 months that I have been away the beach has changed. That is the way beaches are.

As usual for Saturday AM – the local old car guys meet up to talkstory and eat breakfast. 

Across the street, on the pier, predawn fishing is winding down.

I am nicely settled in. Shortly after sunrise, I made a hike to the grocery for eggs and salsa. Happy to report that I was able to open the bottle of salsa – this is not always the case. And I made my most favorite breakfast – English muffin, microwaved egg, avocado, and salsa. And coffee.

Plans are in place for Thanksgiving dinner. Costco Chicken, Stove Top Stuffing, canned cranberry sauce, salad, and that only in Hawai’i treat Pumpkin Crunch from the grocery. Oh and wine. 

Went on a walk – got over 5 miles in today. AND, I went for a nice little swim. Yesterday I just floated around. Today I actually swam. Without my fins. Tomorrow I will try the fins.  This is good. I really wasn’t ready to hang up ocean swimming. I really like fins. So, I hope I can still manage them. This old age crap sucks. But, for now, it beats the alternative!

And another exciting day in downtown Kailua-Kona comes to sunset

Another lazy day of re-entry. At 0630am my friend the night auditor and I walked up the hill to Safeway and Walmart. Actually, she did Safeway and I did Walmart. Stocked up on things like laundry soap, toothpaste and a really cheap yoga mat. My friend was going to stop off and feed the feral chickens. But, I came directly home. Now isn’t that an exciting way to spend the day. 

I managed to get 5 miles on my fitbit. And I “prepared” 4 meals: Breakfast, 2nd  breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

I ended up with a toaster this year. So, I made avocado toast (or rather avocado English muffin) for dinner yesterday. Dinner tonight was peanut butter and banana on English muffin, Hopefully, I will remember how to cook soon. Since I have a toaster, I guess I could have Poptarts. Or Eggo waffles. 

Went for a little float around the ocean this afternoon. Maybe tomorrow I do the fins, mask and snorkel routine. Since my legs have been giving me so much discomfort of late – I am more than a little concerned about my ability to swim. I should have experimented in the pool back at the Asylum. But, that experiment fell into the category of asking questions that I don’t want answers to. 

I allowed jet lag to win today. When you have four months you can do that. Woke up at 3am. Got up, made coffee and started settling in at 4am. Had breakfast at 730. Went for a small walk and got a starter kit of groceries. Did some more settling in. Went for an even smaller walk and then declared my day was over at 1pm. After which I had yogurt and coffee for lunch and then I napped and read and napped and read. 

It is now 5pm and soon I will prepare my first meal in 8 months. Think I’ll start easy. Avocado toast and a salad. Besides it is always fun to use Big Island salad greens. One always has the chance of contracting “Rat Lung Disease” – which would give your mainland family practice physician a real thrill. 

One day last month – Sardines were the “Daily Special” at the Asylum. I was not impressed. Today, doing my grocery shopping, I found the only acceptable sardine “Special”.

The hotel across the street, a Marriott Courtyard, seems to be having delusions of grandeur or at least visions of gentrification. They put up these cabanas on their lawn. Which is a little out of character for our drinking village with a fishing problem.

Good trip over. Plane was early into Phoenix and an unheard of hour early into Kona. The upper-level winds must be backwards today. 

Well, it is 1730 here and 2330  back at the Asylum. So, I think I’ll round up some dinner – granola bars, avocado, jerky and Halloween candy are what is available. Sounds like dinner to me.

Then a nice soak in the tub and off to bed. 

But Living History. I like Living History. It is like CosPlay for history weenies. Carlton did living history for the Park Service. I took some great living history photographs. Heck, I even did photographic living history – using glass plates. 

But, today we seem to BE living history. Or rather reliving history. The very worse parts of our history. 

Yes, Carlton as you ended so many Ranger Talks at Harpers Ferry: “I, John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood.” 

And, on this happy note, I am heading off to Hawai’i. Tomorrow morning at O-Dark Hundred hours. 

But wait: This is really happy news – the oldest grand got a job at the Honolulu Zoo and she will be moving to Hawai’i before Christmas. Brave strong young woman. Grandma is happy and proud beyond reason.

Well, it is almost 9 PM or about 34 hours before “wheels up” on the trek back to Kona. Tomorrow, I am going to have to spring into action and get ready to go. I have 18 more things to do on my list. Some are as easy as “empty trash”. Others are as complex as “pack”.

One of those changeable days today. The kind that makes you think “gee, Mother Nature is one fickle bitch” But, I little fall color is showing up around the edges.

Dinner this evening with the nurses from the office. Even got picked up from and returned to The Asylum. Had fried pickles, beer and a pig sandwich with fries. Life is good. Not healthy. But good.