Author: Peg

Leaving tomorrow night at 11-ish. I am remembering last year when “we” not “I” were leaving. Carlton was really sick. And I was scared to death. Revisit the that day here. 

I would say that I am “almost” ready to go. I have to pay the hotel bill, take some bags of candy to the staff. Return borrowed items. Charge up the electronics. Dare I not print my boarding pass? I “think” I can use my iPad. (Remember, I have a 10 year old cell phone, I can not use it. But, I have a nice data plan for my iPad.) And, I have to stuff the rest of my stuff into the trusty backpack.

After I finish my chores, I’ll lounge, nap, swim, maybe do some yoga.

I’ll have a little dinner and catch a ride out to the airport a couple of hours early. I have no problem waiting at the airport. I do have a problem keeping my friends up past their bedtime. (Past my bedtime too, but that is another problem)

Since I regained the ability to read – I have learned a lot about my camera. So, I am really looking forward to this spring’s flower photography.

Having salad, papaya, tuna for dinner tonight.

Started off the day with a walk down another beach.

I am reminded that here are no beaches in Arlington. But there is Trader Joe’s. And, INCOME TAXES. I really miss having a second set of brains to help think about things like taxes.

The hotel room is a disaster area. I packed up the box that I leave here at the hotel. Everything else is everywhere else.

 



I connected my camera to the iPad again.   Needed to reinforce the new trick I learned early this week. Just noticed that the horizon police would have issues with that image. 

It has been 21 weeks since Carlton died. I have sorted out my life fine here in Kona. I am curious to see how I will get along back in Arlington. I have a fairly hefty to do list. 

1. Taxes 
2. My own estate planning, medical directives, etc.
3. Dispose of Carlton’s stuff
4. Make decisions about the old folk’s asylum 
5. Follow through with decisions made in #4, downsize, plan move etc. 

On the other hand, I could just move into my hotel. Maybe I should consider moving to Honolulu.  Kona really isn’t a suitable place for an old lady with no family. Because, if you need medical care, you have to go to Honolulu. Stay tuned. 



 

 

Wow – today’s work is pretty eclectic.

The only accomplishment today – got my boxes heading back to Arlington. They “should” get there on Tuesday. Just like me.

If anyone EVER sees me pushing a dog around in a stroller – please shoot me. 

While I was stomping around clicking off my 5 miles, I started having fantasies about breakfast in Paris. Croissant, baguette, butter, strawberry preserves and cafe au lait. That morphed into fantasies about breakfast anywhere in Japan. The Japanese eat everything and anything for breakfast. Well, anything except bacon, eggs and toast.

Note to Carlton: As you always did, I got a meeting with “management” and arranged next winter’s stay. October 30 to March 1. The hotel has been super to me – I feel like I am with ohana.

 

At least they don’t have a selfie stick – but – they should be holding hands and watching the sunset.

Carlton and I should have held hands and watched the setting sun more often.

Another wind up time in Kona day – I went to yoga. Did my 10,000 steps. Had a super lunch – barely cooked ahi, the finest lettuce ever, and pineapple. The finest lettuce on the planet comes from the hotel night clerk – she gets it from someone who must grow custom lettuce for the fine restaurants up north of here. Real people never get salad greens that are that good.

Also, sort of packed my flat rate box to send home. I seem to have gained 2 sweaters, 2 pair of pants and 1 kimono and a pair of sandals this winter. Not to mention some shells, beach glass, sand and a turtle purse “craft project”. And a ream of widow-woman paper work that was sent to me here in Kona. Actually, it will be 2 flat rate boxes. Still cheaper than checking a bag. A bag that would have to be ponied home on the subway.

I am also sending my wetsuit home in the box. I will carryon all my electronics and camera gear. And, layers of clothes to add on. Leggings, wool sox, one of the “new” sweaters, a long sleeve shirt, jacket and big fuzzy gray shawl. Will also take a swimsuit, rash guard, and pareo in the carryon. And, my beloved pāpale (hat). It will ride along in my lap – like a baby. I will wear a jeans skirt, tee shirt and sandals for the start of the trip. Other items will be added as required.



Teaching the old woman a new trick.  Too lazy to go fire up the Airness and download photos. But wait, isn’t my camera supposed to be able to connect to the iPad? Sure does. Remember, I bought this camera body as retail therapy last summer-when I couldn’t read.  It wasn’t rocket science to make it happen. 

Speaking of reading, I have been happily reading for the last two days. My reading is almost back to the way it was two years ago.

I had a leisurely day. Beach walking, coffee drinking, swimming, reading, napping.  Next Tuesday,  I’ll be getting back to the apartment in the early evening – Alaska air and metro willing. Oh, and weather permitting. 

Starting to ease into going back to the mainland.

I don’t think of Arlington as “home” anymore. Home was where Carlton was. I don’t think of myself as having home anymore. I have lodgings. According to my Apple Dictionary

Lodging: a place in which someone lives or stays temporarily

I would say that about sums up my position. Nothing wrong with this. Nobody is promised tomorrow. Nobody gets out alive. I am looking forward to getting back to my east coast lodging and getting my new life started.

I am actually almost looking forward to visiting the old ladies asylum – my next east coast lodgings. I am going to seriously downsize again. “Stuff” isn’t going to make me happy. I have all the “stuff” I need right here in my hotel room. Well, except for a nice comfy chair.

My east coast lodging is stuffed with with stuff. And, it still has Carlton stuff.

Hot here today. And, I had a nice big chunk of ahi and a little rice for lunch. An avocado with a little cheese is on tap for dinner.

Think this is a goat skull. It was on the beach this morning – and that is where it stayed.

After beach walking and coffee drinking, I decided to get a Sunday paper and do some laundry. When I was ready for the dryer – the only working dryers were busy – so, my clothes came back upstairs with me and I turned my lanai into a drying room.

While I was arranging my wet clothes – the next door neighbor’s smoke alarm went off and smoke came billowing out their door. The neighbor’s seemed to be standing around saying “OH MY GOD”. I turned into a real busybody old lady and called the desk. Soon maintence is banging on their door. And, the fire was put out. Apparently a romantic candle got out of control!

Speaking of out of control – the Airness seems to be having battery issues again. Well, I’ll just take it to the Apple Store when I get back to Arlington.

The zebra dove is our little dove. (Our big dove is the spotted dove) This cute little guy is basically considered a huge pest – much like the urban pidgeon. According to the Bishop Museum:

A small group of Zebra Doves were reportedly brought to Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, and Maui in 1922, possibly from a Singapore dealer (Bryan 1958). They were identified then as G.s. striata (Munro 1944, Swedberg 1967b, Walker 1967) but the shipment was also reported to have included some Barred and Peaceful doves… Munro collected what he determined to be Peaceful Doves on Lana’i in the 1920s but it appears these were all Zebra Doves. Munro also suggested that populations may have been genetically introgressed with Bar-shouldered Dove, also introduced to Hawaii in the 1920s but all specimens examined to date show no signs of introgression with this or other Geopilia (PP examination). By the late 1930s Zebra Doves had reached and become common on all Southeastern Islands except Hawai’i I, where they soon spread and became established, initially in n. Kona and sparingly in N Kohala (Northwood 1940, Schwartz & Schwartz 1949). In 1946 Schwartz and Schwartz (1949) estimated a population of 237,000 individuals on Kaua’i (ca. 52,000), O’ahu (ca. 70,000), Molokai (ca. 52,000), Maui (ca. 47,000), Lana’i (ca. 10,000), and Hawai’i I (ca. 7,800); highest densities (up to 800 per square mile) were found in dryer areas of O’ahu and Moloka’i. They have since spread throughout Hawai’i I and have much higher populations there (Lewin 1971; Berger 1972, 1981; Scott et al. 1986), and undoubtedly on the other islands as well.

Over 10,000 were shot around the Lihue Airport, Kaua’i, Jan-May 1992 as part as damage control. Although listed as a gamebird (Walker 1967) and actively taken through at least the 1970s (Berger 1981), little hunting of this species currently occurs in Hawaii.

All that being said – I like them. I think most people do. Someone liked the birds in the photo enough to feed them left over rice. BTW – I like pigeons and starlings too.

Today I was hunting for something easy to eat at the grocery. Then I realized – YIKES – my days of Ahi and Avocados were coming to an end. A big chunk of ahi is on tap for dinner. But with a nice orange not an avocado.

 

 

 

I was very pleased when me, my camera, the long lens, the light and the whales all came together just after noon today. What I have here is a 2 second sequence of a single breach.

Went to yoga, my walk was cut short by whale photography, got some new sandals, little swim, little lounging under my palm tree and reading.

Oh, and I made my reservations for next winter. Oct 30 – March 1. See no reason to stop wintering in Kona.

Also, I scanned all the lovely cards people sent me. I put them into Evernote. And, pitched to cards. One less thing to take back to Arlington. And, It is in keeping with my attempt to have way less paper and stuff.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s cold as hell back in Arlington. But, I think it is time for me to be heading that way. I want to figure out what I am going to do and where I am going to do it.

I stopped off at the night auditors room today. It is a hotel room, but she furnished it and it has a more gracious “kitchen” area. Point is, I think I would be happy with a tiny apartment at the old ladies asylum. I just don’t need that much space/stuff. The stuff that I do have, it will be good stuff. Think I’ll keep my bed, my coffee table and my rugs, everything else goes bye. Just playing mind games. I haven’t a clue what I am going to do. Or where I am going to do it.

INTERESTING.

I thought that was my photograph.

See: http://pegbethany.org/weblog/daybook009/020210.htm

I really don’t care. Much.

Sunrise at the old airport. And it is boat day as well.

Lucky you come Hawai’i.

I got an email this afternoon from the apartment management basically announcing the end of life on the planet as we know it because of the incoming cold. Glad I am not worrying about a house.

Time for a nice cup of Kona’s finest – medium roast peaberry.