This brown booby has been fishing in the bay for a month or so. Chicks must be somewhere nearby. The brown booby is the only booby that crash dives into the water after fish. He/she caught one today. I would hate to be swimming by and have a huge bird crash in next to me!
A little farther south – the turtle heads out to sea.Only to appear a couple of frames later – sharing a small wave with a young boy.
Now, shall we amuse ourselves? If you were the Republican Party – and if The Donald were your presidential candidate. Who one earth would be Veep. Last time the Republicans ran a wildly unqualified person for president – they backed him up with the adult/experienced Dick Cheney. And, when John McCain looked a little old and boring they made things more interesting with She Who Must Not Be Mentioned. Who can they be thinking about as Veep? Mother Teresa is dead – never mind she wasn’t a citizen. Maybe one of the Kardasians? Are they citizens? Is this a great country or what?
Dolphins were out having a great time early this morning. Too early for my long slow lens.
MOJAVE, Calif., Feb 19 (Reuters) – Richard Branson‘s Virgin Galactic venture unveiled a new passenger spacecraft on Friday, nearly 16 months after a fatal accident destroyed its sister ship during a test flight over California’s Mojave Desert.
Yes, Peggy would go. What do I have to lose except my cookies? And, besides – do they really have to actually go? Couldn’t they fake the entire thing with a great virtual reality setup?
Note to Carlton: I miss your skinny ass. Life’s a journey – a good travel partner makes the trip worthwhile.
Starting out before the sun comes up.Headed up north to Kamehameha’s birthplace.Maui is over there. Just across the usually stormy Alenuihāhā channel.Checked out some working girls.The Upolu Airport. Back in the 1920s, Upolu Airport was an airstrip known as Suiter Field, The U.S. Signal Corps maintained a communication station there. I haven’t a clue why the state still maintains it. 3500 feet. And, usually windy as hell.The waiting room.Kapaa Beach Park.We had a grand whale sighting at Mahukona. I didn’t put the long glass on the camera – because – I knew that would jinx whale watching for everyone.
We finished off our adventure by polishing off a couple of plate lunches at Kawaihae. Grilled cheese and fries yesterday. 1/2 a chicken for lunch today. Better be careful or I’ll not fit in my jeans when I get back to the Old Bat Cave.
And today – The Donald attacks Apple. To recap this week: The Donald has attacked Pappa Bush, the Holy Father, and Apple Computer.
You know, nobody really wants to hear that you couldn’t sleep last night. So, you just muddle through. And, if you are like me – by 6PM the next day – your eyes are too tired to read. Time to crack open an audiobook.
I can not believe that I am living in a world where The Holy Father and The Donald get into a pissing contest. It is too depressing to think about The Donald. He couldn’t become president – could he?
Don’t you just hate it when you lose your glasses and find them on top of your head? Maybe I really am OLD.
I am sort of in denial about being OLD. My youngest son-in-law is going to be 55 soon. That is an old age wake up call.
The quilt is on it’s way to a new home. I feel good about that. At my OLD age – less is best. I will continue to use and enjoy my old quilts. The ones that I have had forever.
In his later years – Carlton tried to “avoid beginnings”. It is a concept that I am starting to appreciate. 20 years or more years ago, a dear older friend told me to just say “I don’t do that anymore”. Never mind if I never did it – if someone asks me to go skydiving – I can just say “I don’t do that anymore”.
Well, this is an interesting experiment. I am trying to do this post using the voice recognition and the iPad. I think it would be easier for someone like Carlton. Someone, Who had experience in dictating to a secretary.
I find it rather difficult I just don’t think in words I think in paper well actually I think with the keyboard. Because I have a hard time writing a letter or even a postcard I must let my fingers do my thinking.
But, as I get older options are good and maybe I’ll end up talking my blog not typing my blog. Gee, I wonder what will happen to my blog after I am dead? Speaking of dead, I am trying to be enthusiastic about returning to the asylum. Every week I read the newsletter of weekly events, and every week I hope to find some event that I would have liked to attend. I have not missed a single thing. I am so not interested in the activities at the asylum. I know it’s where I’m supposed to be. I know it’s a good place. I just never meant to be a little old lady. But, I R1? Ok voice recognition I are one.
Two weeks from today, at about this time, I’ll be getting ready to head off to the airport. Starting the adventure back to the asylum. And as soon as I get there, I will start planning my next escape.heck, I could start planning my escape right now!
Sunrise on an ordinary day – captured by Shamu the Phone
Nothing special today. But, even a nothing special day in Kona is pretty damn good.
I am at the “restless” period of my time in winter quarters. It always happens. It is too soon to start packing up. It is too late to make any long term plans or commitments. Everything that I was going to do should have been done.
I made it through 46 Tech Free Hours. Not too shabby. Finished one book, started and finished 2 books and started another. That seems to be what I do with I can not mindlessly play with my technology toys.
Notes to Carlton: I found this fine picture of you from 6 years ago. When life was all good. And not “just like it is supposed to be”. Which was what you said it was like during your last 2 years. You are still my Valentine.
When I downsized, I scanned the pile of cards and letters you sent me over the years. I read a couple of them just now. You know, I wish you had left me a letter before you died. And, I think you would have if you knew you were going to take the express train out of town. These old letters are a nice substitute. Glad that I scanned them. (I did pitch them). About the time we got married, you stopped sending me cards and letters. But, you always did little nice things for me. In your own way you took care of me. You had zero skills as a caregiver. I remember getting out of the hospital – still recovering from a raging kidney infection. You figured I should eat something – so – you offered to go get a bucket of fried chicken! That got me out of bed and into the kitchen in a hurry. And, you are still taking care of me.
One thing I remember you said one night in bed in those final months – you said that we seemed to be closer “in sickness” than we were “in health”. Fortunately we never had to test the “richer” or “poorer” part.
Yes, I still wear your ring. Yes I still sleep on “my” side of the bed. I never told you this – but before you came along – your side of the bed was “my” side. But, you logged more time in that bed than any other man – so I am staying on “my” Carlton Era side. Besides, back in the Old Bat Cave – my side is closer to the bathroom!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Carlton. Do the have holidays wherever you are?
As soon as this is posted – I shall start my February Tech Free Weekend. No devices. Except Shamu the Phone for calling and the Kindle for reading. I’ll be back online Sunday evening. I can do this.
Spent most of last year downsizing and moving. You all heard all about that for months on end. Another way to describe what I did is “curating”. And that is what I am going to consider may new downsized life. It is curated. Years ago, I worked for a Park Service curator. He stressed the importance of having a tightly worded scope of collections and sticking to it. Now, I just have to come up with a scope of collections for my “stuff”. I am going to reflect on that during my technology free time. That way, if something comes into The Old Bat Cave – because it followed me home, someone gave it to me, I bought it, or even won it in a raffle… If it doesn’t fit into the collection – then I have to pass it on. I do not have to accession it into my collection of stuff. I do not have to find it a place. I do not have to take care of it. I do not have to keep it alive.
Now, this is in no way saying that my stuff is museum worthy. It is just stuff. But, thinking of it as a curated collection helps keep the tchotchke under control.
This has be a silly week holiday-wise. We had Chinese New Years, Mardi Gras, and now we are having Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. This is the Year of the Monkey in case you were wondering.
Think I over did walking, swimming and yoga again. I am going to have to go back to the asylum to get some rest.
Speaking of the asylum… I went to the locksmith today and had a spare key made to my asylum room. Hopefully, having a spare key will decrease the number of times I get locked out. And, I hope the key works. Now, where will I “hide” my key. Maybe in the laundry room. Or behind one of the ugly pictures in the hallway. They have a spare key at the desk – but, I am pretty sure they keep track of how many times you lock yourself out. Lock yourself out too many times and off you go to “The Memory Terrace”!
Just bought a book (Kindle) Own My Own, by Diane Rehm. It is about her husband’s long death from Parkinson’s, her first year as a widow, and assisted suicide. (Which she favors. So do I. So did Carlton.) I don’t think I could have read it earlier. But, I am well enough to share someone else’s story.
I have finally gotten my ability to read back. During Carlton’s last 2 year and my first year as a widow – I was not able to read for pleasure. But, I can read again. When I started being really concerned about Carlton in December 2013 – I was reading The Three Musketeers, and plowing through lots of vintage SciFi. I am not yet back to reading The Three Musketeers, or even “serious” SciFi – but I am happily consuming lots of literary drek these days.
Note to Carlton: I inventoried my finances the other day. Verdict: I have been an OK steward of your money. I used some of your funds to buy my way into the asylum, but, I have been paying my own expenses out of my money. And, with your money – I have been mostly following your investment guidelines. Oh, and you did buy me that new long slow lens. Love you.
When the water is clear and the light is great – even I can not complain about the $99 camera. But, thousands of people on Oahu can complain. Our much anticipated surf contest didn’t happen. It was Mother Nature 1 and Computer Model 0. The big waves showed up – but just too late in the day. They need at least 6 hours of 20 foot Hawaiian measurement (40 foot rest of the world – don’t ask) waves.
The Common Waxbill
So, today was: walk, great swim, and “senior” breakfast at Denny’s. No complaints. That took me up to noon. Then read some. Nap some. And, ID’ed a mystery finch. This winter is the first time I spied this tiny little bird. I knew it was a finch. And was pretty sure it wasn’t from the Americas. Turns out it is the Common Waxbill, from Africa. It was first seen on Oahu in 1979 and 12 were seen in Kona in 2002. There are more than 12 here now. They are apparently popular “pet” birds… so, I am guessing that is how they got here. Pretty sure they didn’t fly in from South Africa.
Today’s lunch – nuked some broccoli, while that was going on it chopped up a couple of hard boiled eggs and a cara-cara orange. Added them to the broccoli and added some pepper and balsamic vinegar.
Watching Bernie Sanders right now. Bernie Sanders and The Donald. What a strange year. May you live in interesting times. Right?
Took the long slow lens out for a manual focus practice – spiders were the target.
Large “Hawaiian Garden Spider”
Mystery orb spider – wrapping up a tasty snack.
Tomorrow – the greatest occasional surfing event on planet Earth – The Eddie – will go. It hasn’t happened since December 2009 and has only occurred 5 times in the 23 years that Carlton and I have been coming to Hawai’i. And, photography has really changed since 2009. So, I am looking forward to watching online or on TV if the hotel gets the right channels.
No, I am not going. It isn’t a money thing. It is a logistic thing. The only way that I would go would be via “Beam me up Scotty”. The traffic infrastructure does not support the event. It will be total gridlock well before sunrise tomorrow. I could get there by plane and bus. But, I know my limits.
