Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .
Needless to say, the boat didn’t find any dolphins – because I was there.
The waves weren’t really good for surfing. But, they were better than no waves. And by 9am the waves were settled down – but – swimming was still like swimming in a snowglobe. So, no fish pictures today.
Been thinking about resolution #7 – Do one new thing every week. At my age, coming up with new things isn’t easy. I have done a heck of a lot of things. Stay tuned.
A lazy sort of a day. The ocean was unfriendly for swimming. So, I just swam “laps” at the little protected beach across the street. After watching the Redskins lose – I went for a nice late afternoon walk – looking a the ocean. Nobody surfing. It was too junky.
Time to get some New Year’s Resolutions. These are last year’s resolutions.
I did pretty good with last year’s list. The only thing I didn’t do was COOK. But, the asylum COOKS for me. I did such a great job with last year’s resolutions – I am kind of leery about making resolutions this year…
Resolved 2016
I didn’t take the $99 camera out today. But, I did see some nice fish from the pier.
See Any Dolphins? I don’t either. That thing at lower edge is a canoe paddle. You don’t see any dolphins, because I am a marine mammal repellant. Yes, if I am around, you can be sure there will be NO NONE ZERO NADA ZIP marine mammals. No dolphins, no whales, no narwhals, no seals, no mermaids.
This morning, I saw dolphins from my balcony. I grabbed the camera and rushed down to the pier. The dolphins knew I was coming – so they left.
Really tired today. I think my program of walking fives miles a day, plus daily swimming and yoga have taken a toll on the old body. Carlton was sort of my reality check. He would remind me to take a day or two off from time to time.
About Ted Cruz. There is something very wrong with the man. He reminds me of Richard Nixon. He would be the scariest president ever.
Note to Carlton: Your beloved Theodore Roosevelt NP in Medora, ND is number 5 on this year’s NY Times 52 places to visit in 2016. Right between St John’s VI and Mozambique.
I was sort of moping around after lunch today. It was cloudy and “cold”. Well, I talked myself into suiting up and swimming out. I did come back to the hotel still encased in my wetsuit. No way I was going to take it off out in the cold wind. So… photos from the $99 camera.
When I was coming back in, I saw a cute little puffer fish. The one on the right is a spotted puffer and grows to about 12 inches. The one on the left is the Hawaiian whitespotted toby. It maxes out at a couple of inches. Both are true puffer fish and can inflate to complete round balls.
And, when I was getting ready to take my fins off – what should I find – a devil scorpion fish. It is our version of the stonefish. The Australian version of the stonefish can kill you. Ours can just hurt you.
These critters are very common just off our pier. Most of the time, they remain invisible.
Oh, the ocean swim worked its magic. I out over the moping.
And now, it is dinner time. Soup? Brussel sprouts and hardboiled eggs? Tuna and avocado? Lots of options. I think it needs to be brussel sprouts. They have been in the fridge the longest.
What is it about the ocean? Why does even the smallest swim in the ocean make my day 100% better. And, why is it that swimming pools – even ones in Hawai’i – don’t work? For me at least.
And, today’s image from the $99 crappy camera.
Just think how great this image would be with a “real” camera. It was pretty special in person. And no, I am not having “real” underwater camera lust.
Getting ready to “do something with” my 1,000+ photos from American Samoa. This is one of the many churches. Many of them seem to have been built like this one. This is one of Congregational churches left over from the initial missionary assault on Samoa. The Congregational missionaries came from London – not New England like the missionaries that came to Hawai’i. This would be in the 1830’s.
The black stuff piled up on the boat are fishing nets. I did not have a nice yellow rainslicker.
Nice day today. It seemed warmer. Had a very nice swim.
We never celebrated our wedding anniversary. Indeed, the only days we observed were the Winter Solstice and Alex Sikorsky Day (sometime in April – it was a very special day to Carlton. On that day Carlton’s first wife got remarried to Alex Helicopter and alimony stopped. This was before my time.)
However, I am celebrating tonight – dinner at the local micro brewery with friends. And, Carlton is buying.
This is also Carlton AA anniversary. (43 to those keeping score) I remember being astounded by “celebrating AA anniversary”. My exact words were something like “What the F…, they give you a cake, cards and even presents for not doing something that was killing you??? Where are my presents for not scarfing down a box of rat poison?” Amazing that our relationship lasted “until death do us part”. Amazing that it lasted past that statement which I uttered during our 3rd or 4th date.
Still cold here. But, I went out at noon, and promised myself a hot shower and soup for lunch.
This woman was coming back in with her kid/grandkid on the board. But the big dog made it interesting. She has the dog and the board attached to the same ankle. The kid has a life vest.
My priorities are a little skewed. I really don’t worry about sharks or dengue fever (202 cases so far). But, box jelly fish scare me. If I see one – even a dead one on the beach – I take it as a sign from the goddess and I stay out of the water. Which wasn’t hard today. Gusty trades and cool temps. Only visitors from Alaska, Oh Canada, and Minnesota were in the ocean today.
I know a couple of people who have seen a whale this season. I haven’t seen any and the whales are reported to be MIA. Normally they would be here in great number by now. Seems it it is so warm in Alaska waters that the whales have delayed the migration.
And, this cute truck belongs to HotSpot Welding.
Big, 30 foot faces, waves on the other islands today. Around here – nothing. And, Paul Allen’s little yacht took off for ports unknown.
Note to Carlton: Remember the Vava II, the futuristic yacht that was here in the winter of 2014, the one that gave you the $100 tip? Of course you remember a $100 tip. Well, I looked it up to see if it was anywhere near. Nope, the Vava II is in Port Antarctica. I didn’t know you could just drive your yacht up to Antarctica and park it.
The “Malama Kai” – take care of the ocean – sadly – has not made the journey to American Samoa. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Polynesia is notoriously trashy. But, I had hoped for better from AMERICAN Samoa. If for 3,000 years you wrapped your lunch up in a banana leaf and just left the banana leaf when you were done – why wouldn’t you do the same with your plastic plate? A culture/technology clash that isn’t pretty. But, culture/technology clashes are never pretty.
Enough with bitching about the litter. Let me tell you what I did NOT see. I saw no homeless people. Not one. And, it wasn’t like the Pago Pago city fathers were hiding them. There were no homeless people. And, I saw no one wandering around wacked out on drugs. I rode all around the island on crowded buses and was always treated with utmost respect. I was always given a “good” seat up front. And this same courtesy was extended to elderly locals as well. The Samoans get an “F” for Malama the aina – but an “A” for malama the people on the aina.
So, today, I exhausted myself by 9AM. With walking and yoga. That left me in great shape to do my New Year’s correspondence. Tomorrow – I’ll tackle start of 2016 bookkeeping.
And a real macro-ish shot from this morning’s walk.
Wifi on the 2nd floor. $5. Five dollars will also buy an entire stalk of bananas.
Today, I was going to attend to some New Year’s correspondence, email and snail. But, it didn’t. Maybe, I’ll do better tomorrow.
But, I did long my 5 miles, and I did a little yoga and went for a nice swim. There were no fisherpeople – so, I floated around with the fishies.
In keeping with my plan to eat real food – I steamed some cauliflower with chicken, and enjoyed it with a very fine orange for lunch. Cheese sandwich with pineapple is on tap for dinner.
President Trump? It couldn’t happen, could it? Feb 1 is the Iowa Caucus. A week later, New Hampshire. This is the party that ran Barry Goldwater. (Nevermind that my party ran George McGovern) Messrs Goldwater and McGovern were unelectable. Mr Trump is unpardonable.
2016 started with Paul Allen’s fireworks as viewed from my lanai. About 15 minutes worth. Thank you, Mr Allen.
I started 2016 by waiting for sunrise on the pier. Then I went to breakfast at Fish Hopper. I did that last year too. A new tradition. Then I did my 5 mile walk. After eggs, bacon, rice, and toast – no way I could skip my walk.
Before long it was time for a little yoga and a little swim. The water was choppy. I wasn’t going to take the crappy camera – but, if I left it in the bag – I wouldn’t have captured this cute little eel.
and finally – just for fun …
This cartoon is a long standing blog tradition. That really was Carlton’s ideal New Year’s Eve. And it is what we always did. It is what I’ll do tonight. Using my Kindle. And a nice cup of tea. However, I am hoping that Paul Allen will have fireworks for us tonight. Sometimes, he does. Our village is too impoverished to have our own fireworks.
Yesterday was the day that Carlton and I considered our “anniversary” – this would be 37 years. And January 5th is our 22nd wedding anniversary.
Note to Carlton: I think you are going to buy me a used long and slow lens for an anniversary present. Nevermind that you don’t believe in presents. I have been taking good care of your money, you can afford to get me a new long and fast lens. But they weigh about 6 pounds more than long and slow. As for the used – all my lenses are used. So is my body (camera and actual). And, for that matter, you were used too.
Funny, I still think of “my” money as “Carlton’s Money” and “My Money”. I pay for all my expenses out of “My Money”. “Carlton’s Money” paid my entrance fee into the old ladies asylum. It was his idea that I move there. So, it was only fair that he should pay my way in. But, I pay the monthly rent out of “My Money”. Sort of like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Enjoyed real food today. Steamed some broccoli and chicken breast. Served it with a really fine orange. Real food.
Walked my 5 miles, did some yoga, went for a little swim. Took some fish pictures with the not very good $99 camera.
