life in the old lane

For the last 15 years or so, this has been my blog New Year’s Eve Post. And, that really is how Carlton “celebrated” New Year’s Eve. 

When Carlton and I were “dating” but not exclusively – I know he went to a New Year’s Party with another woman. I think when he realized that I wouldn’t insist that we go out on New Year’s or any other night for that matter… That was when he decided to become a one woman man. 

But, I am happy to not go anywhere tonight. 

Had a fine day. Logged my 5 miles walking. Went for a nice swim. Did some yoga. Some reading. 

And, I thought about 2016. Was it really the Worst. Year. Ever.

Not even close. 

• 65,000,000 BC – that was most likely the worst. Your giant asteroid that wiped out 75% of life on the planet including every single dinosaur. That had to be Worst. Year. Ever.
• 1348 – The Plague in Europe. 1/3 of the population dies. This one gets my vote.
• 1492 – That wasn’t a very good year for the existing population of the Americas.
• 1837 – The Panic (financial) of 1837. This was a US thing. And, I know it would get Carlton’s vote for worst year ever. 

So, there you have four years that were worse than 2016. Way worse. Not making any promises about 2017!

But, let us end the year on a happier note. 

I put the winter holiday theme away for another year. And the hotel Xmas tree came down. It is much easier to put the holiday theme away!

 

Carlton didn’t do Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Birthdays etc. But, he did remember anniversaries. And, December 30 is the day that he considered our anniversary. 38 years ago. 

Cloudy today. Chilly as well. Forced myself to walk 5 miles. Did a very easy yoga. No swimming. Cold and choppy. From my lanai, I can see two outdoor weddings getting ready for this evening. I hope mother nature is kind to the celebrations. But, mother nature is a bitch. 

The techie in me came out of my news blackout to read about the Russian hacking. The Democratic party email hack is bad, but the Russian hack into an electric power utility in Vermont is worse. Of course, I am not surprised. Hopefully, it will be a HUGE wake up call. But, I am not counting on it. The Russians are really good at this shit. 

Time. It goes by too quickly. It creeps along too slowly. And, all we can do it try to use it wisely. 

Dinner tonight: avocado, pineapple, and sausage. 

Just waiting for 2016 to leave. And hoping that Keith Richards hangs on for another couple of days.

Did some yoga. Went on a nice long swim. There wasn’t much boat traffic – so I went out to find the akule school. Some reading. A little walk. A little origami. Just another lazy day. 

Parrotfish also change from their initial female phase to terminal males. 

And today, a got a good enough shot of the initial phase palenose parrotfish.

And that is about it for today. Oh, and I saw a little eel. 

Mokuaikaua Church was looking pretty festive this morning when I came by on my walk. It is going to be getting the termite treatment. 

Did my walking and yoga today. Didn’t swim, it is boat day – and the ocean was a little crowded with boats and novice paddle boarders and kayakers. And, I have done any origami yet today. But, the day isn’t over yet. I am still working on dollar bill butterflies. 

Been trying to make a “List of Good Things That Happened in 2016”. 

1. The oldest granddaughter graduated from college. And went to Africa. And came back safe and sound. 
2. The Cubbies won the World Series.
3. I have good new friends at the Asylum.
4. … and that is about it. Maybe some else good will happen in the next 48 hours.

Dinner tonight – Sushi. And pineapple.

Went out for a swim at about 9:30 this morning. While it was still calm. I was hoping to catch up with the dolphins, but they had other plans. But, I was happy with my swim. And, I just knew that I had captured this great hawkfish. So, I was getting cold and decided to swim back in… 

And what did I find – a big octopus. (Our octopus are not all that big – they max out at 10 pounds.)First one this year.  I LOVE octopuses. Fortunately for us sorry ass humans, octopuses only live about 2 years – in the wild or in captivity. I honestly believe if they lived longer – they would rule the planet. I figured this guy would be moving on since he was way too exposed for comfort. And, sure nuff…

Off he went. Or she. 

The octopus is just to the left of the saddle wrasse. Shortly after this image, he slithered completely under the coral.  

Today: Coffee, watch sun come up. Walk. Yoga. Swim. Crash for the rest of the day. 

I love this place. But, no, I didn’t make a mistake moving into the Asylum. The Asylum is “Home”. And “home” is where when you go there, they have to take you in. This is sort of the 1/2 way point of my winter. 

Dinner. It will feature a baked potato. And cheese. And salsa. Lots of salsa. And beer.

The ocean gives me just what I need. When I was younger she humbled me with her strength. And now that I am old she supports me with that same unchanged strength. I have grown old, but mother ocean remains strong.

I played with some different setting on the camera today. It troubles me that the images are not tack sharp. But, it know that what I get is all that the camera can deliver. Not to mention the obvious – I am not the most stable shooting platform. 

About a week ago, I started my 12 Step Head in Sand program. It is hard to not watch the coming darkness. But, I can not stop it. Just watching it will not stop it. And only make me unhappy. 

Yoga has been good. I notice the improvement in the last 8 days. Yoga and the ocean. And a little zen practice. 

Not my circus, not my monkeys. 1486 days until the January 20, 2021. 

The day started sweetly with coffee at Honls. Then… before you know it – it was time to head up the hill, for Xmas dinner. According to Google, it was 3.2 miles and 1020 feet elevation change away. And Google said it would take 75 minutes. So, out the door I go…

After about 30 minutes I stop for a water break…

Along the way, I am reminded that that solid line really doesn’t provide all that much protection to the pedestrian.

But, at the 2.7 mile marker – a friend stops and takes me the last 1/2 mile. Much much much appreciated. And, she brought me back down the hill. It was all good. 

And, the party was all good. We had to sing and play games for our supper… But there was lots of good eats. Turkey, ham, mini marshmallow-free sweet potatoes. Regular potatoes. Veggies. Apple pie, tiramisu, and fruit tart, ice cream for dessert. I ate everything. Figure I earned it. 

No politics – well – except for the ever entertaining local kind – were mentioned at dinner. 

Think the Hibiscus Project was a success. I found this impressive and festive blossom on this morning’s walkabout. And, I think I came up with an OK shot – using Shamu the Phone. 

And, what am I doing this Xmas Eve. NOTHING. And, before you feel sorry for me. The hotel manager asked me what was doing tonight – when I said NOTHING, she thought about it and said “That sounds wonderful!” 

Tomorrow is another story. I am going to Christmas Dinner. I am taking a present. Said Dinner is 3.2 miles and 1,020 feet elevation away.  Figure that I’ll give myself about 90 minutes to get there. At least if I fail to  nail a ride home – home will be all downhill!. Sort of reminds me of William Faulkner. He was invited to dinner at the White House in 1962 and turned the invitation down with the comment that 100 miles was a long way to go just to eat dinner. 

Billy and I changed our routine today. Went swimming in the usual place but about 5 hours later than usual. 

Coming up on dinner time… In keeping with the doing NOTHING theme of this evening – maybe a nice cold one and a tuna sandwich. On a paper plate.

Today was sort of a bust, fish photography-wise. But, that never stops me. The two blue fish are yellow tail parrot fish and the yellow one is a yellow tang. 

Had a very tranquil day. Walk, followed by a big breakfast. Restocked the nice clean fridge. Yoga. A little Zen practice. Nice swim. Now, instead of watching news, I’ll have a little predinner walk – just to top off the FitBit. 

Dinner is going to be sushi. Will have to decide if beer or sake is the beverage of choice. Something to think about while on my walk. Such a problem.

This is this week’s origami project. I didn’t make a new butterfly today. I made more fish to give to people. I am liking these butterflies. Think I’ll continue with them next week. I have the directions for a damn near impossible one that I may try to master. We’ll see.

And for a little season cheer… one from my trip to the supermarket this morning.

What? You were expecting mince pie and figgy pudding… This is Hawai’i. 

And samples of the potential danger. 

After looking at the monster jelly – none of the regular swimmers were willing to go out. And, I sure wasn’t. Because, for a couple of days a month – I am more than willing to cede the ocean to the jellies. 

So, I headed out for a nice long walk. With the proper gear for shooting whales. But, no whales. So, I decided to practice – I took pictures of boats with the long lens. So, I’ll be ready if a whale shows up.

Then, I came home and did laundry, defrosted and cleaned the fridge, did my daily 30 minutes of yoga, and after the fridge was good to go – I restocked it with beer. And, that was about my day. 

When I started the 12 step Head in the Sand Program on Sunday – I did 30 minutes of yoga. And, by yesterday, I was one hurting old woman. Fortunately, I wasn’t as sore today. I did not crash down onto the mat with a huge umphhh mid Chaturanga Dandasana. NOTE TO SELF: You can not take any more 2 month holidays from yoga. 

I am still avoiding all but local Hawaii news. Hawaii is always replete with with long ongoing political scandals. The current one (which has been ongoing since 2013) involves the Police Chief of Honolulu and his prosecutor wife. The goings on are too bizarre to explain. I feel sure it would have already made the national news were the national news not so filled with the actions of team trump. 

Nice clean fridge has no food. So, I suspect that cheese sandwich might be on tap for dinner. But, before that, I have to do my daily origami. Another dollar bill butterfly maybe…

 

And here, once again is the traditional Solstice greeting that Carlton and I used for years. Even decades.

Wishing everyone the best of the festive season – no matter what it’s called at your house. In pagan traditions, the solstice is a time to put away the things of the old year and look forward to the new. One observance of the solstice involves extinguishing all the fires in your home before midnight on the eve of the solstice and lighting a new fire the next day. This probably won’t be quite as symbolic if you have central heating. Or if you are in Hawai’i.

The winter solstice falls on December 21 – the word solstice means “sun stopping.” The winter solstice is the day on which the sun reaches as far south of the equator as it gets, and is as such the shortest and darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The solstice marks the rebirth of light for the coming spring.

The winter solstice also marks, among other things, the druid festival of Alban Arthuan – a time for bestowing gifts upon those less fortunate than ourselves. Out of this observance has grown the more popular tradition of gift-giving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, maxed-out credit cards and 70% off sales. May the goddess be with you during this season – but don’t blame her if you get fruitcake again.

I am grateful for that which I have.
I am not sorrowful for that which I do not.
I have more than others, less than some,
I am blessed with what is mine.

Carlton and I did not celebrate Xmas. But, we did observe the solstice. Summer and Winter. 

We have more than our share of old cars in our little village. Went looking for a whale today – but found this car instead. You shoot what shows up with the gear you have. 

This was with the cheap long lens. And, the monopod. 

It was a fine morning. Yoga at 0500 hours. Then some Zen practice – prepayment for Facebook time. Then coffee and a walk. Saw my first whales of the season. So, it is official – the whales are here. (no whale pictures today – didn’t have the right gear) Then a big old breakfast. Finally an hour in the ocean with Billy. 

I can not get my own shells off the bottom – being too floaty in my wetsuit and too wimpy to go out without it. Most of the time we were in water too deep for good photos. That didn’t stop me from taking 149 pictures and deleting all but 10 of them.  

Yes, there were eels. Billy found a great big one. No pictures – it took me a long time to see it. And, by then it was going under a rock. But, coming back in the shallows – I swam over this little guy. 

About that urchin shell…

 

Here it is – along with this week’s origami study. The Dollar Bill Moth. I will carefully bring it back to the asylum and turn it into a tiny lamp. 

Doing fine – have two politics free days.