life in the old lane

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.

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.

 

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.

Read about it.  

Burr! It was cold this morning. 62° right here in exciting Kailua-Kona. What’s a person to do?

But, after lunch I suited up and went for a swim. It was choppy. I got tired of getting water in my snorkel. So, I floated around the murky shallows and checked out the low life.

The flying gurnard is most likely saying “Not you again” Maybe one will open those pectoral fins completely for my camera. They are most likely a defense mechanism – and I am not dangerous – just a nuisance.

And, what should I find under a rock – a tiger tail sea cucumber. I think they “eat” sand. Filtering out what’s “good” and pooping out what’s not. But, I might be wrong. Don’t really know much about sea cucumbers.

Finally, a lizard fish. They usually bury themselves in the sand. Right up to their eyeballs. And wait for an unsuspecting fish to swim by.

You can see that the eyes are on top of the head. I was hoping to get a picture of the teeth. Lizard fish have very impressive teeth. And lots of them. But they were closed mouthed today. Lots of species of lizard fish in Hawai’i. And, I can not begin to tell them apart.

 

Started the day with a nice walk. Then, it seemed like a good time to do laundry. After I put the clothes in the dryer – I noticed dolphins in the bay. And, nobody was near them – because it was 2 hours to SuperBowl time. So, I figured the laundry didn’t need me. Down to the pier with the new long slow lens.

Need more work with dolphins and this lens. And, I missed the paddle boarders. I would normally use them to fix a manual pre-focus. But, it was great to see the show.

Back to the laundry – and I made lunch. Nuked asparagus – two minutes. Added 1/2 an avocado and 1/2 a papaya. And a little balsamic vinaigrette. (Thanks for the asparagus, Billy)

Rooting for Denver and the Old Guy. Don’t really have much interest in either team.

Sort of a leisure day. Walked up to Safeway and used the last $20 off coupon that I got by getting typhoid and HepA shots at Safeway before going to American Samoa. And, I went down to the Farm Market for avocados and papayas. Then I reminded myself that I am leaving in 3 weeks. So, I need to be careful when grocery shopping. No need to stock up. Time to stock down.

Food. After almost a year and a half, I finally figured out how to feed myself. My all alone by myself self. I like cheese, veggies, hardboiled eggs and salad. I love avocado, papaya, pineapple and fish. All these things are way better in Hawai’i than in Virginia – and – in Virginia the asylum feeds me. So, I have stopped trying to “real” meals. Put some veggies in a bowl. Nuke it for a bit. Add a hardboiled egg or some fish – and there it is – lunch or dinner. If I am feeling really lazy – start with an avocado and lettuce – then I bypass the very arduous microwave part. And there is alway my standbys yogurt and oatmeal. All I need is a bowl, a knife and a spoon. No muss. No fuss. And, it is Real Food.

Tonight – I am going to start with asparagus. Arduous Microwaving!

I have some images on the desktop that I was going to use yesterday when the wifi wasn’t working for me. More snapshots for the BBQ dive. But, no food porn photos.

Another “busy” day today. Walk, swim, lunch with the girls from Iowa. I had salad today. Otherwise, I’d be ordering a new wetsuit from Amazon tonight.

Lovely clear calm water for this morning’s swim. Fish are from today. Click on the fish photos for larger versions.

Dolphins were out there – but they didn’t come over to visit.

He took off – and I was able to get a short little video of him (or her).

Note to Carlton: Friends of Carlton knew that he refused to eat “out”. Especially in restaurants, anykine restaurant: fast, fine or dive. Well, I went out to eat with friends 3 days in a row this week. And, I guess this is my resolution #7: Do one new thing every week for this week.

Dengue Fever on Big Island – 250 and counting.

Walk, swim, lunch at Jake’s, visit with friends, and nap. Going to lunch tomorrow too. Maybe I should order a salad.

Got a mail packet from the asylum. Haven’t opened all of it yet, but nothing looks like trouble.

WiFi is bad tonight, so I am using Shamu the Phone.

Note to Carlton: Shamu the Phone is cheaper than your landline was. And, I got your message about going to a park this summer.

The juvenile night heron was a little bit of a mystery. Shouldn’t have been. The bird was acting like a night hernon. It just didn’t look like a night heron.

(The chickens are at the old airport. The heron at the pier.)

Went out for a ladies lunch today. Fine fun. Then went walkabout in Costco. The fitbit is happy.

Question for Carlton: Do I want to go out to a park this summer? It is the 100th anniversary of the NPS. It would be different without you. But, everything is different without you.

I went out for a swim early this morning and found:

1. No one in the water
2. No gear stashed in the rack
3. A friendly warning
4. Look around – box jellies.

So, not a good day for me to swim out. I have an irrational fear of jellyfish. (Nevermind that once I went to Chicago just to see a jellyfish exhibit.)

Our Hawaiian box jellyfish are related to the Australian box jellies. But not as vicious. Also, ours come like clockwork 8-10 days after the full moon. They will be gone tomorrow.

Started packing for the Way Back train trip. I packed my iPad with audiobooks. (The trip is a month away. Start packing early!)