life in the old lane

The village is too poor to afford New Year’s Fireworks – and it was just as well, since it was sort of rainy last night.

But, there was no shortage of adult beverages.

Mother Nature provided our New Year’s entertainment – Big Waves. And, she still has volcano, snow, hurricane, tsunami and earthquake in her Hawaiian arsenal. Maybe, she’ll unleash some snow for us.

Is this the year that I will actually do the “Picture A Day” thing?

 

Well, this really isn’t fair to Carlton. He has progressed to using a Kindle.

Speaking of Carlton… The plastic surgeon that was recommended would be happy to work on Mr C ASAP – but he doesn’t take medicare.

Lots of big surf – well, what passes for big surf in our area today. Then after lunch it started to rain a little. The fire department will like that – lesson the problem of fires caused by firecrackers.

The day before the last day of 2012… The country, is poised to go over the fiscal cliff. The price of milk is set to double. (Aside: in my smallkidtime Mom forced milk down James and me. Sometimes it was reconstituted powdered milk. Frequently it was blue skim milk. Once in a great while it was nice pasteurized whole milk. Why did moms in the 1950’s think that little humans needed to drink huge amounts of a fluid designed for little bovine animals?) And, the debt ceiling is poised to come crashing down in February.

Carlton said he couldn’t sleep last night because he was worried about his skin cancer. I didn’t waste any time suggesting that if he was going to worry – he should go back home. Neither of the local dermatologists are willing to tackle his problem. But, this morning he heard about a plastic surgeon that might. Maybe he will call the guy. Maybe the guy will see him. Maybe the guy takes insurance and medicare. Maybe the guy will work on him. Or maybe not.

This is a tree. There is a huge one at Carlton’s Palace which made the “Big Trees” List this year.

Still no plans to get Mr C back to DC and into his doctor’s office. I am still not nagging him.  At least he stopped having fainting spells after I removed grapefruit from the menu.

Guess I could always feign illness myself – so I would have to go back home. It would be easier to fake a serious tooth ache. But, silly me, I found a really fine dentist for myself here in Kona. I could fake a dental problem. But, I don’t feel very confident about faking an illness. Especially since I would have to fake seeing a doctor when I got home. Nope, this is not a good idea.

Today, I took pictures of yellow things.

 

Not a very fine photo – but our resident gecko came by for a little coffee.

Our local mongoose family came out to play this afternoon.

Finally, one of our feral cats.

And, once again – I have proven that I am not a wildlife photographer. Not even close.

Got lots of flowers here. Why not photograph some.

We are still in Kona. I haven’t gotten tickets yet. But, I stopped suggesting it is time to get back to Northern Virginia and to his doctor. So, we are a happier little family.

From December 1 thru February 28 every year – the whole island waits to see if “The Eddie” is run. It is a one day surf contest. Only run when the waves are over 25 feet. Last time they ran The Eddie was 2009. But, they say – The Eddie might get off Sunday or Monday. Hope so, I need a diversion. Read about The Eddie. 

I want to get Mr C back to Arlington and to his dermatologist. I want to go back yesterday. He wants to stay until the end of January. I could just announce that I am going back and he can do what ever he wants. That is the only way I can get him to leave before he is good and ready to leave.

So, Plan B is to just shut up about what he “should” do. But, I will be ready to break camp at a moments notice if I see him weakening.

I spent most of yesterday worrying about him. That is rather counter productive.

Taking a page from Queen Elizabeth’s 1992 Christmas message –

2012 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. It has turned out to be an Annus Horribilis. 

Unlike the queen, my palace didn’t burn down. YET. And, we had a lovely sunrise this morning.

 

We would like to wish 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.

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, last minute shopping, 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 socks again.

This annual solstice greeting is several days late. Blame my tardiness on the Mayan Apocalypse. Or blame it on my advancing years. Or just my general laziness.

Okay. Here is the deal on dermatologists. We have two. Both of them will see Mr C. BUT, the one that takes Medicare doesn’t do what he needs done. She refers skin cancer cases to Honolulu. The one who does skin cancer patients doesn’t take insurance or Medicare. So, we’ll be heading home sooner than planned. He wants to stay  until the end of January. We’ll see.

 

If we can not find a dermatologist that will see Mr C – and there is only one around here that accepts Medicare – then we’ll be heading home sooner rather than later.

 

 

Our tree – not a peacock anywhere. I get drafted to help decorate it every year.

The hotel across the street has a red tree decorated with large blue peacocks. And green feather boas.