2015

Goodbye to 2015. I am looking forward to an even better 2016. Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. I want to write a good one...

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Family left today to return home and as sad as I am that they are gone I feel really fortunate to have been able to spend time with them the past 10 days. It meant a lot to me to have them here for the Christmas holidays. I will probably put together and post a photo collage about the time they spent here over the next few days.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

I am having an at-home catch-up day today. Sean and Rose headed to Chinatown this morning and Butch, April, Celina, Cat, and Ellen went to the Waikiki Aquarium and the beach. Sean and Rose reported that the vendors in Chinatown weren't all that nice to them, which is kind of a shame. I spent this morning at Urgent Care with Michael. He's been miserable with flu-like symptoms since early Sunday morning and his right knee is swollen and painful to the point that he needs support to walk. Fortunately his Mom's cane was still in the house so he has been using that to get to the bathroom, etc. The doctor said the fever and pain are a result of a bacterial infection in his knee and prescribed antibiotics. She wants him to return to the clinic tomorrow so she can check on the swelling in his knee. She actually outlined the infected area with a marker for comparison purposes.

The family leaves Thursday and it will be difficult for me to see them go. It has been wonderful hanging out with them. We have done quite a bit. In addition to the Waikiki Beach area, we went to Waimanalo Bay, swam at Waimea Bay, hiked both the Makapuu Lighthouse and Manoa Falls trails, paddle boarded at Ala Moana Beach (on Christmas day and we saw sea turtles), snorkeled at Hanauma Bay, and ate an awful lot of food (the scale reminded me of that this morning).

One awkward moment - I called Michaels aunt to let her know we would not be visiting because Michael wasn't feeling well and I had her on speaker phone as she began questioning me about Sean and Rose's future plans, reminding me that Sean is the last of the Doves. Sean and Rose fortunately found it humorous.

Tonight Leslie and family plan to come over - we are doing take-out Chinese food.

Update on dinner - Leslie and Chelsea apparently bought out the Chinese restaurant as we had enough food for at least twenty hungry people. It was a very nice evening. Lots of conversation and amusing entertainment with Lily showing us her hip hop moves. I am glad they all came over to hang with the haole part of the family as it hit me last night that the only blood relative in the room was Sean. Michael's temp spiked again and he ended up staying in the bedroom and probably not getting any sleep because of all of us noisy folks in the house. #reallysorry

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Last night we went to a restaurant called Lucky Belly in downtown Honolulu. And I felt lucky as I gazed at my family and thought about how much they all mean to me - Michael, Sean, Rose, Butch, April, and Celina. And how fortunate I feel having them here in Honolulu for the holidays. There is so much I love about about living in Hawaii but there are times that the isolation fills me with longing for all the people I love that are so far away. The easy laughter, the silly jokes we have all heard before, the catching up on family news, all of it is a special gift that could never be packaged up or bought in a store. I felt this way when Joe was here as well.

And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun. The near and the dear ones, the old and the young...

Monday, December 21, 2015

Sean and Rose arrived last night and it is so good to have them here. We went to Kailua today and had an excellent lunch at Buzz's. As we were leaving, the secret service was sweeping the bridge area and any parked cars near the restaurant for explosives in preparation for Obama's motorcade. Which I missed (dammit) because I stopped to use the restroom. According to my family, he even had his window down and was waving to bystanders. So, so bummed. We also stopped at Waimanalo Beach but ended up not staying very long because the wind was so strong it was actually a little chilly. Butch and family arrive tonight.Michael was worried about how Kali would react to having extra bodies in the house and it turned out to be a non-event. She apparently slept with them last night and made a pest of herself.

Friday, December 18, 2015

I spent the morning grocery shopping and then making a big pot of chili and a big pan of chicken enchiladas - both of which are now in the freezer so I have at least a few really quick meals available once company is here. I also went to Costco and picked up DiGiorno frozen pizzas as another meal alternative. Cheap eats... as I suspect we will be eating out a lot.

Kali continues to spend most of her time under the bed although she is sitting with me now and did venture out to sleep in the living room this afternoon. I have to remind myself that it's been less than four weeks and she is adjusting. I've just never had a a cat like her before -the cats we have had in the past made themselves at home pretty quickly. I am pretty sure she will be doing a disappearing act once company shows up.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Birthday wishes to my sister Kathy. My wish for her is that she never stop dreaming...

I spent the day doing house and yard work in preparation for my family visiting. And if anyone remembers how slippery my wood floors occasionally were in the Ann Arbor house, let's just say you are forewarned. Amazing what you can do with painted concrete.

And for whatever it is worth, we are under a high wind advisory through Saturday or Sunday. We lost power for about 90 minutes last night and I am hoping there isn't a repeat as I plan to stock up on groceries tomorrow. I've decided to make a few meals in advance and freeze them to cut down on time spent in the kitchen over the holidays.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

For the record I am pretty sure that I have never been slim enough for there to be a gap between my upper thighs when I am standing with my feet together.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Today Michael and I went to Kawaikui Park and while he surfed I spent some time watching the Honolulu Marathon participants run or walk down Kalanianaole Hwy. The marathon started at 5:00am and at 1:00pm (8 hours later) there were still participants on the course - many were walking slowly and painfully but they seemed determined to keep going. From where I was sitting they had another six miles ahead of them in the hot midday sun on the road with no shade. Some wandered into the park to cool off under a tree and a few headed for the beach showers to rinse their heads in cold water. Then back at it. I realized that at the pace I walk (3 miles/hour) I could have been one of these stragglers.

Friday, December 11, 2015

I am not sure if dreams have significance other than the meaning we apply to them when we are awake. I have recurring dreams about being alone and lost, about houses I have never lived in, and journeys I have never taken. And sometimes I dream about family and people I know or have known. I dreamt about my dad last night and he was very much alive. He looked good - neatly dressed and alert. The family had gathered - all of my siblings, spouses, and children and we seemed to all be going out to dinner. When I woke up I thought this dream was somewhat ironic in that I realized that I dream more about my father than my much loved mother. Like something was left unresolved. I wasn't there when he died and the last time I saw him he was alert enough to have a conversation with me and I was able to say my goodbyes. And maybe that's how I will always remember him. My mom's death was different. I watched her life slowly leave her in the days I sat by her bedside listening to her breathing and waiting for the inevitable. And that difference is somehow significant.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Yesterday Michael and I went on an adventure to the North Shore to check out the big surf. We stopped at Waimea Bay first and I found that like many other people watching the waves I felt a reverence for their beauty and power. We headed for the Pipeline next and discovered the streets packed with cars because the Billabong Pipe Masters surfing competition was happening. We had given up on finding a parking space after driving a few miles and turned around to head back only to find a space next to the Pipeline parking lot. Talk about dumb luck. Watching the surfers maneuvering the big waves was fun - it's something I have not done before. We ended our adventure with lunch in Haleiwa. A good day...

I had something happen to me this week that I've never had happen before. I missed my dental appointment on Tuesday - I thought it was at noon and it was at 10am. I made two appointments after my Monday appointment and the other one is at noon so I guess I just had the wrong time on my mind. But I was sure embarrassed when the dental office called to ask me where I was. I go back tomorrow. This does make me realize one of the advantages of working is you do have a better handle on appointments because you are constantly using and looking at your on-line calendar. So a lesson was learned to enter all appointments in my on-line calendar and set-up phone alerts.

Monday, December 7, 2015

I usually have pretty decent dental appointments but when I went in for a routine cleaning today it turned out that I needed some unexpected dental work done; a porcelain onlay ($1281.62) and a surface composite ($133.30). I am still in the one year "waiting" period for procedures to be covered by HMSA so have decided to wait until February (my one year anniversary) to see if insurance (30-50%) will be approved for the more expensive procedure. I have an appointment tomorrow for the other procedure. Sigh...

I mentioned to Michael today that after spending the holidays for the last 35 years in cold, snowy, grey weather something seems a bit off with all the Christmas displays here as it's in the 80's and sunny. Not that I am complaining as I sit here in a tank top and shorts.

Kali still hangs out under the bed most of the day but usually emerges in the evening to hang out with us while we are watching TV and she sleeps with us. I find myself thinking I should get her something for Christmas and often wander to the pet section when out shopping to look at cat toys. No worries though - I am not going to become a crazy cat lady.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

I had a nice time out with Mr. Dove last night. We went downtown for the First Friday Honolulu Hawaii Art Gallery Walk. This is a monthly event - galleries, shops, and the Hawaii State Art Museum stay open late with music, food, etc. We had dinner at Murphy's and I admittedly drank too much. We checked out a few galleries and shops. The art museum had a harpist - pretty soothing.

Today I spent the morning raking and bagging leaves - the plumeria trees are shedding their leaves right now and every day the yard is covered. And I thought moving to Hawaii meant no more major leaf raking. Our biggest problem is only having two "green" containers that are picked up every other week but are full almost immediately after pick-up. I have been cheating by bagging the leaves and putting them in the household trash bin. Living dangerously in the tropics...

Friday, December 4, 2015

It turns out Kali is a bit of a dare devil. She seems to like hanging out in my office in the evening but spends a lot of that time trying to figure out how to get as close to the ceiling as possible. She has tried climbing the brick wall (slid down), jumping from the desk to the top of a shelving unit (didn't quite make it and fell about seven feet to the floor) and has been eyeing the artwork on the wall and the window louvers as potential climbing footholds. It's only a matter of time before she realizes climbing the curtains is an option. I've tried to ignore this activity but must admit feeling concerned that she is going to get hurt.

I went out to lunch yesterday with Arlene (lives in Seattle, went to Kalani) and she mentioned how she lived with Michael and me in the house we were renting on Kalanianaole Hwy in the mid 1970's. I am embarrassed to admit that I don't remember her living with us. It makes me wonder what else I don't remember or remember incorrectly - history rewriting itself. We also went to Nakamura's Nursery on Date St. The cross street is Lukepane which is where Michael and I lived prior to the Kalanianaole house. It's a family operated business. Mrs. Nakamura is in her 80's and her husband is in his 90's. She propagates the plants herself but you have to have the right mind set when buying plants because there are no prices listed anywhere and I get the impression that she charges based on how she feels about you and how long you are willing and/or able to spend "talking story" with her. She is like a talking history book, remembers the Pearl Harbor attack but at the same time seems to be very aware of current events. I love talking to older people like her. Oh by the way, I bought Michael a bamboo plant and a maidenhair fern for his pond area. She advised me to make it clear to Michael that he needed to keep the bamboo potted so it doesn't take over the yard. We shall see...

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Birthday wishes to both Elizabeth and Cat who celebrated birthdays this week. I feel fortunate to be able to call these two bright independent young women family.Michael and I had a busy day running errands today. We went to our local craft store and I bought an album to use as a journal in 2016 - I plan to print out my musings from this site and add any memorabilia I pick up to the binder (and no, I am definitely not a scrapbooker). Our next stop was City Mill where I found a small electric leaf blower - perfect for blowing the leaves off the patio and off the planting beds where I would hesitate to use a big blower. I also think it could be used to dry hair in a pinch. I also splurged on rope lights for the back patio. Then a quick stop at Zippy's for lunch as I had not eaten breakfast and was starving. Following lunch we stopped at the Ross store in Kahala Mall, browsed for deals and bought a few items. On the way home we stopped in Aina Haina and went to the bank, library and thrift shop. I found a couple of bowls for Kali's food and water at the thrift shop. We have been having an ant problem so I am going to try nesting her food bowl in a larger bowl with water in hopes that the ants won't be able to cross the moat.

Monday, November 30, 2015

We have had Kali for a week and she is slowly getting more comfortable with Michael, me and the house. She still retreats under the bed most of the time but is spending more time exploring and climbing up on shelves looking for higher perches. I think she is going to be okay living with us old folks.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

I may have to write a book about the cat that lived under the bed. Kali does come out to eat, etc. and is extremely affectionate in the evening but during the day she pretty much hangs out under the bed. She seems really sensitive to noise. Don't judge or laugh at me but I think I may have found a friend. She lives in the Valley - I see her when I am out walking and she often gives me limes from her tree. This morning she invited me to go hiking with her on a trail overlooking Haunama Bay. I am hoping this leads to other activities as she already mentioned taking a class together at the University of Hawaii. She says she'd like the company. So who knows...

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Day three for Kali. She finally left her safe spot in Michael's office only to replace it with a new favorite hiding place under our bed. She will come out only to be petted, to eat, and to use the litter box. We are working hard to respect her need to hide out but it would be nice to see her. And it is super windy and rainy today so i can kind of get wanting to be somewhere sheltered. (This is me rationalizing on her behalf.)

Michael has been jogging mornings instead of riding his bike. He's trying to shake up his exercise routine but has admitted it's harder than he thought it would be. I guess I really need to do more cardio - like maybe interspersing some jogging with the walking I do. Sigh...

We are spending Thanksgiving with Michael's Kailua relatives tomorrow. I just finished making cranberry sauce, which I am not really fond of so have no idea if it is any good. Hopefully his relatives will be polite if it sucks. I told Michael to bring his flask just in case. :)

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Day two for our newest family member. We put Kali in Michael's office yesterday along with her food and kitty litter box so that she can get used to living in her new home in baby steps. Initially she hid but when Michael would go in the room she would come out to be petted. Michael created a little nest for her in one of the cubbies in a shelving unit. It's so cute watching how gentle and patient he is with her. Today I sat outside the doorway to the room in the hall and she ventured out to be petted and even poked her head in our bedroom and my office. She retreated back to the safety of Michael's office when she heard a dog barking but is making progress. She's such a tiny little sweetheart. It is clear Michael is smitten. I want this to be his cat because I have been the go to person for most of the other cats we have had in our lives.

I walked ten miles this morning and have realized I could easily walk farther if I chose to. I am embarrassed to admit that my biggest issue when out walking is the need to pee. I actually walk home sometimes for that very reason. And for the first time ever I peed in public today behind a storage unit at a Methodist church. I did look for an open restroom at the Niu Valley Shopping Center and at the church first with no success. Desperate times result in desperate measures.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Day four of steady rain. But it did not deter Michael and I from having a busy day. We went to the grand opening of the new Long's store in Aina Haina. We had a nice time wandering around and Michael even stopped at the pharmacy and was their very first customer to get a flu shot. I am surprised they were not busier. We planned to go to the craft store next but decided to stop at the Humane Society "just to look" at the cats. We ended up bringing home Kali, a tiny little female calico. She is an older cat (7.5 years). And she is currently hiding behind a piece of furniture.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Michael and I just got back from a nice dinner at the Chinese restaurant in Niu Valley. I tried Hong Kong style noodles and I liked them. We went to see a dance performance at St. Louis School this afternoon. Liliy was in one of the segments - so cute! She's quite the little hip hopper. It doesn't hurt that she likes to show off. :)

Yesterday we went to Ala Moana Mall and Michael checked out the iPad Pro at the Apple Store. I could tell he really wanted one but he just won't make the commitment. He says he really needs a new computer but... We also walked through the new wing of the mall which includes a Bloomingdale's - the verdict is that we are more Macy's kind of people than Bloomingdale's. I kind of felt out of place - like when you walk into Hermes or Chanel wearing Target shorts and flip flops. When we are at the beach people watching, you can always tell which tourists are wealthy by the way they dress and carry themselves - I'm afraid Michael and I aren't making the cut.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Butch sent out an email yesterday regarding an offer made on my parent's house. It will be a relief it it goes through. I am hoping the house inspection doesn't reveal any deal breakers - just thinking about things like mold and radon that reared their ugly little heads when I was trying to sell the Ann Arbor house.

We went to Home Depot yesterday. Michael bought more lumber for his backyard retreat which once it's roofed and finished will be a nice quiet place to relax and meditate. He created a pond and is landscaping his area back there as well. Food for the soul...

I bought more succulents and a few pots but need some cactus potting soil before I can arrange the plants. I have been doing container gardening only up to this point but Michael indicated today that I could have a go at one of the planting beds. It's in a semi-shady area under a tree and it looks like roots might be a challenge but it will be fun to research what plants might work there.

Monday, November 16, 2015

I started thinking about family trips (usually moves) when I was growing up and how my parents somehow managed to cram several kids and belongings into the family station wagon. I often had a hot sweaty younger sibling on my lap on long trips in an un-airconditioned vehicle. And there were always a few kids riding in the back bed of the station wagon surrounded by lots of stuff. And of course, no seat belts. Apparently safety wasn't a high priority back in the day. I decided to try to write out what I remember about these trips. I am sure there are lots of mistakes but all this happened a long, long time ago...

Tripping, family style…

1958

The first family trip I remember was the move from Saginaw, MI to Bremerhaven, Germany in 1958. I was seven years old and in the second grade. In retrospect I have to give Mom a lot of credit. Dad was already in Germany and she made this trip alone with five children that included an infant and a toddler. I have no idea how we got to the airport or even what airport we flew out of but I am assuming we flew from Detroit to New York and then from New York to Germany. I wish Mom was still alive to ask for help with these details. I do recall on the first flight that the airline seated our family in seats that faced each other and they served us a fruit platter and buttermilk. Maybe we were in first class? When we arrived in Germany, we had to take a train from Frankfurt to Bremerhaven. I don’t remember if Dad met us in Frankfort to travel the last leg of the trip to Bremerhaven. I remember being impressed with how large the train station was and that a German man was doing magic tricks to amuse us kids while we waited for the train.

1962

The second trip I remember is when our family moved from Bremerhaven to North Platte, Nebraska in 1962. By then, I was in the sixth grade and there were seven children in our family. We flew back to the United States on a military air transport plane (MATS) that after a stop in Iceland and a layover in Newfoundland for repairs landed I believe at the McGuire AFB in New Jersey.

When the plane stopped in Iceland, we were all lined up in a tent set up on the tarmac for an inoculation. I have no idea what it was for but am guessing we were exposed to someone in- flight with a nasty disease. The stop in Newfoundland was for repairs – the propeller on one side of the plane was leaking fluids and apparently failed. What I remember most about Newfoundland was how cold and snowy it was. When we got off the plane, we were instructed not to touch anything metal with our bare hands. And the snow was well over my head (granted I was short). They housed us in what I am assuming was military housing and we ate in the cafeteria. It was the first time I ever ate turkey a la king with rice and apparently I liked it enough that to this day I try to recreate this meal with turkey or chicken pot pies and rice.

I don’t remember a lot about the drive to Nebraska other than driving on both the New Jersey and Pennsylvania turnpikes and wishing my father would stop at a Howard Johnson. The sixties were their heyday and they were advertising ice cream treats like root beer floats. Meals were eaten out of the back of the station wagon and were mostly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I am pretty sure we traveled to Michigan before continuing on to Nebraska but I don’t have a clear memory of where we stopped or stayed.

1963

The third trip was a family vacation we took to visit Mom’s relatives in North Carolina. I think it was in August of 1963. Not all of us made this trip. Two of my brothers (Bern and Butch) stayed home I think because of their paper routes.

We spent the first night on the road camping at a Kansas roadside park area (the forerunner to today’s rest areas). It was filled with fireflies, a beautiful sight on a dark starry night out on the prairie. In the early morning hours the wind picked up and the stakes holding up the tent didn’t hold. Dad made us all sit on the edges of the tent to keep it from blowing away. This was also the trip in which I had one of those moments that I wish I hadn’t been afraid to speak up. My dad went into town after we set up the tent to get gas and supplies. When he returned, I noticed that the gas cap was missing but didn’t say anything because I was afraid my father was going to flip out. Well, of course he did flip out at the next gas station when he noticed it was missing but at least it wasn’t at me. The next stop was in St Louis where we stopped for lunch at a small diner – one of my few memories of eating in a restaurant with my family as a child. We camped again the second night at a campground somewhere in Missouri. I remember swimming in a pond completely covered with green algae - something I cannot imagine doing now as am adult. On the third day we stopped at Mammoth Cave (I think) and did the tour. Pretty impressionable stuff for 12 year-old me as I decided I wanted to be a spelunker when I grew up. That night we camped out at Cumberland Gap next to a mountain stream full of big boulders. My dad doesn’t swim so he was pretty freaked out about me going in the very fast moving icy water but a young couple assured him they would keep an eye on me. I am not sure if there was another night out on the road. Once in Fayetteville, we stayed at our grandparent’s house surrounded by cotton and tobacco fields. My cousins (the Pate boys) took me out in the fields and showed me how to pick cotton. They also let me drive the cart pulled by a mule in the tobacco fields. Later I went with my grandfather to the area where they sort and smoke the tobacco leaves. It was like stepping back in time. I visited my Aunt Esther’s house when I was there and discovered that they used a well for water and still used an outhouse. They kept water in a big barrel outside for showers and had to pump the water in the kitchen to do dishes, etc.

Interestingly, I don’t remember the trip home, which makes me a bit suspicious that my memory is faulty and that some of the experiences I attributed to the trip on the way to North Carolina might have actually happened on the return trip. Another observation is that on this trip I saw for the first time examples of the blatant racial discrimination that existed in the 60’s. It wasn’t unusual to see signs posted on restaurants indicating they had separate entrances and sections for whites and blacks. Some places simply said, “No Coloreds Allowed.”

By the way, my father did get his gas cap back. He stopped at the same gas station on the return trip and they had a whole drawer of gas caps that the service guys neglected to put back on cars.

1965

We moved from North Platte to the Detroit area in the summer of 1965. By this time our family had grown to eight children so there were ten people in the station wagon as it traveled north and east to Michigan. I don’t recall if we were on the road more than one night but we did stop outside of Warren Dunes State Park and stayed in a cabin. This stop turned out to be a little bit of a coming of age stop for me. I was 14 years-old and found myself at the beach hanging out with other teens some singing and playing guitars. And for some reason this had an impact on me – it was the first time I started to feel like a young adult.

1967

The move from Detroit to Honolulu in 1967 was the last family trip I would go on. We drove from Michigan to California and from there took a flight to Honolulu. I suspect we didn’t fly out of Detroit because my father had to drive the car to the west coast so it could be shipped to Hawaii. My older brother stayed in Michigan as he was planning to attend the University of Michigan in September. This left seven kids plus our parents along with our belongings all crammed in a station wagon for a cross-country trip.

We left our house on Lennane in the early hours of the morning. My boyfriend Frank was there to say a tearful goodbye but I have to admit feeling a sense of relief to be leaving him behind. I believe we spent our first night in a KOA Campground in Davenport, Iowa. Interestingly five years later in 1972, Michael and I stayed at that same KOA as we traveled from Portland to Detroit. I am not sure if it was for nostalgic reasons, but the next stop was in North Platte, Nebraska. We must have stayed there a few nights because I recall visiting several people and even going to a Boy Scout Jamboree with Ron Hirschfeld who gave me his Eagle Scout badge. We also stopped in Salt Lake City to see the Great Salt Lake and spent one night crammed in one motel room in Ely, Nevada. More than anything I remember it was incredibly hot and we couldn’t go swimming in the motel pool because we had all received multiple vaccinations prior to leaving Michigan and were told not to go swimming in a public pool for seven days (or something like that). Our last few nights on the road were in Yosemite. I ended up hooking up with a group of teens and actually had a pretty good time hanging out with them. Although as I recall my father wasn’t too happy when they came by our tent late in the evening and were calling out my name. I also had a scary moment with a bear. I was walking to the restroom and encountered a bear that was trying to pick through the trash. I made it to the restroom and just hung out there until the bear left.

I believe we may have flown out of SFO because it was a commercial flight but spent time waiting at a military base first (I think it was Travis AFB). I just remember watching TV in the waiting area and seeing the TV series Dark Shadows for the first time.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Michael and I spent big bucks at Target yesterday. We now have enough canned goods to survive for months. We also bought Christmas decorations - a necessity because I gave or threw away nearly everything we had collected over the years. Our other purchases included a portable air conditioner for the living/dining room. We still need to figure out the best spot to vent it. The past few days have been super breezy and comfortable but it can get uncomfortably hot and humid so it will be nice to have a/c available.

We had dinner out followed by a movie Friday night. It was like a real date. We saw the new Bond movie Spectre. I enjoyed it - it had all the Bond elements including chases over roof tops, travel to exotic places, gun shootouts, car chases, and of course beautiful women. What's not to like?

Friday, November 13, 2015

Just realized it was Friday the 13th... I have been glued to the TV for the last three hours watching the news of the attacks in Paris unfold. I wish I could say these events are unbelievable but they are not. Unfortunately terrorism threats have become a part of our lives. My heart goes out to the people of France.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

It was more talk than walk this morning but I did learn more about the neighbors and one mentioned that there is a City & County Recreation Center in the next valley over that offers classes - something I am interested in checking out. Who knows, maybe doing stretching exercises with a bunch of seniors is in my future.

I had an ick moment this morning. I usually drink a glass of water before I go to bed, which I suppose is a bad idea because it leads to trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping. There is usually water left in the glass when i go to bed that I drink in the morning before I walk. I am so glad I looked in the glass this morning before drinking as there was a big cockroach floating in the water. Eew...

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Yesterday Michael and I met up with Traci, her son Jack, and a family friend's daughter Sophia at Kuhio Beach. Traci was my boss at Internet2 and her husband is here for an electrical workers union conference. Michael took the two kids out surfing and they were both beyond excited, especially when they were able to ride waves standing up. I enjoyed catching up on the gossip at Internet2. It makes me realize how much I miss outside human contact - I need to take a class or join a club or something. One funny incident did occur - Jack mistook a homeless guy that lives in the park for Michael. "Hi, remember me?" We all got a really good laugh.

We ran errands today that included a stop at Kahala Mall. Michael was hoping that the Apple Store would have an iPad Pro on display as Sean had mentioned playing with one today. I am assuming the Chicago Apple Store must have some. No such luck here.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Michael and I went to Lanikai last night for dinner and a play. Michael's aunt and two cousins were in a community performance of Wild Bill and Calamity Jane at a small outdoor theater at the Lanikai Community Theater. This may not be a politically correct comment but the audience was predominantly caucasian which I believe is also true of the Lanikai and Kailua communities. I bring this up in part because I am often the only caucasian when we are at McDonalds in Aina Haina, for example. But I digress. It was fun seeing Michael's relatives in this production. And I really have to give his aunt credit that at 89 she is still so active. It gives me hope.

Friday, November 6, 2015

While I was out for my walk this morning, a small dog made a break for freedom and was sprinting down Halemaumau Street with it's owner in pursuit. It disappeared after it turned up Mahimahi Street but I spotted it again twenty minutes later with another little dog - both happily sprinting down Mamaki Street with the owner of the first dog now in her car trying to catch him. Apparently with no success as I spotted the dogs again on Ulua Street fifteen minutes later. I sure hope both of these dogs got reunited with their owners after their little escapade. It amused me to see them on the run but at the same time I was worried about one of them getting hit by a car as they crossed streets.

The birds are pretty chatty this morning and I am hearing a few whistling sounds I haven't heard before. I wish I was more knowledgable in identifying birds by their sounds. Where is my brother when I need him?

Thursday, November 5, 2015

As Michael mentioned on his FB posting, the banana plant disappeared over night. I suspect our neighbor's son wasn't happy with what his mother had been up to. He's a pretty reserved guy - I've said hello to him a few times and didn't get much of a response. Or it could be the banana bread I made for them completely sucked. If it is son related, I hope he hasn't completely scared her away as I enjoy talking to her.

We did some yard work today and then went to Aina Haina Shopping Center to go to the library, Post Office, McDonalds, and Foodland. I was looking for saffron as I am curious about the price but couldn't find it. I thought it might be nice to have some on hand to make rice dishes but I suspect it's not a cost efficient spice to just "have on hand" as some spices have pretty short shelf lives.

The trades returned yesterday so it was good sleeping weather last night and it's been pretty breezy all day today. It sounds like the trades will continue through mid next week which is good news.

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE NORTH OF THE STATE WILL KEEP BREEZY EAST- NORTHEAST TRADE WINDS IN PLACE THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...WITH CLOUDS AND SHOWERS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ACROSS WINDWARD AND MAUKA AREAS.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

A scene out of Lost in Translation... Our 82 year old Vietnamese neighbor does not speak much English. She occasionally comes over with plants for our yard. She had given Michael plants a few days ago and came by again yesterday when he was working in the yard. He isn't sure what she said to him but he thinks she was trying to tell him he planted something in the wrong location and that he needed to dig a big hole, which he did but had no clue what for. Today I was potting a few plants I bought yesterday and noticed she was in our side yard with her shovel filling in the hole Michael dug. I ended up having a long conversation with her with both of us using broken English and lots of hand gestures. Apparently she had offered Michael an apple banana plant yesterday but there were too many tree roots in the spot he dug up. She gave me a small apple banana plant and told me where to dig. While I was working on the hole, she started digging a large deep hole in another spot. Remember she is a tiny 82 year old woman. I had no idea what was going in the hole but went over to assist her. It turned out that she had offered Michael a biggish apple banana plant the prior day. We both carried the plant from her yard and we now have a largish apple banana plant growing next to the mango tree and one of its babies planted next to the kukui nut tree. I am pretty sure growing bananas in this part of the yard was not part of our landscaping plans but what the heck. When in Hawaii... I am glad I had this opportunity to speak to her though as I not only found out a lot about her and her family but also shared information about my family as well. I never did get her name though despite asking and introducing myself so I still need to work on my communication skills.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

On my morning walks there is a steady stream of traffic as parents drop off their children at the three schools in the neighborhood. This morning as I dodged cars and kids, I found myself flashing back to my mostly unsupervised youth - more specifically the years (1958-1962) when our family lived in Germany. I realize it was a different time but 10-11 year old me and my friend Lynn would leave the military housing we lived in and walk to a busy off base street to take a streetcar into downtown Bremerhaven. From there we would walk several blocks to the German school we were both attending. My parents obviously felt that this was something someone my age could figure out and do without one of them keeping an eye on me. And this continued regardless of where we lived. Walking or taking a bus was my usual mode of transportation to school, the mall, the park, etc.

I actually do not have an issue with parent's driving their kids places, I just find the difference in parental attitude interesting. My dad wasn't around for a lot of my childhood and I suspect trying to monitor the activities of several children wasn't realistic for my mom. And quite truthfully I and my siblings knew what the parameters were and we followed them - we knew we had to be home for dinner at a certain time, for example. In some ways I think my mom's parenting style made us more self sufficient and we "kids" relied on each other for many things that many kids look to their parents for these days.

I have to admit that my own parental attitude was a mixed bag when it came to managing Sean's activities. He usually walked to school and took the bus when he was older and school was farther away. He was also fortunate to have neighborhood friends and I was very comfortable with them riding their bikes or walking unsupervised to places like Buhr Park, Putt Putt, or Pin Ball Pete's. And although I did worry, I did allow him and a high school friend to drive to Florida on his own during his senior year's Spring Break. But I must admit that in many of these cases, I was comfortable only because he was with a friend or friends. So there is that.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

We didn't have a lot of trick or treaters last night - maybe 25-30 total. Most of the kids that were out were fairly young and many had to be coached by their parents to say trick or treat. I am remembering Sean the first Halloween I took him out. He was so scared that we went to only two neighboring houses before returning home. But then he was always freaked out by costumed people when he was young. He just didn't seem to get that they weren't real. This included clowns and even the characters at Disney World, which made for an interesting trip. His imagination went into overdrive but then Disney does advertise that it's where fairy tales come true. And in regards to clowns, I do have to admit I find them a little creepy myself. I am also not a big fan of creepy dolls.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween!! And I have to add that it is so hot and humid today that the sweat is just dripping off of me and I am not even doing anything. I may have to go in the house and sit in front of a fan.

Friday, October 30, 2015

I spent the morning raking and bagging leaves. It may have been the heat but I found it exhausting. I ended up with six bags of leaves before calling it a day. I suspect I could have easily filled a couple more. We have a fair number of trees on our property and they are shedding a lot of leaves right now. We went to Costco after dinner tonight to pick up Halloween candy and ended up with a cartload of stuff (as usual).

Yesterday we went to Windward Honda in Kaneohe to get an oil change. We ended up walking around the Windward Mall for a few hours and then spent the afternoon at Waimanalo Beach. I have to admit it is my favorite beach for relaxing with a good book. They had a man o' war warning sign posted but it didn't seem to be stopping anyone from enjoying the water.

I listened to a Films of the Future podcast Sean participated in while I was out walking this morning and really enjoyed it. They were talking about Spectre. Good fun.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Shark attacks continue to happen. A ten year old was attacked at Makaha today. I am not sure how many so far this year but it seems like a lot. Michael thinks it is because of warmer ocean water. If I was a surfer, I'd be scared.

Dinner with Ellen last night was interesting. Michael and I arrived at the restaurant at 6pm and got a table, ordered drinks and then waited and waited for Ellen to arrive. It turns out she arrived at 6:10pm and did not see us and also got a table. We didn't connect until 6:30pm which made a certain person kind of grumpy.

I downloaded a few books: A Banquet of Consequences (Elizabeth George), which is part of the Inspector Lynley series and The Girl in the Spider's Web (David Lagercrantz), which is a continuation of the Lisbeth Salander series (think Dragon Tattoo). After reading a bunch of so-so books that I downloaded free it will be nice to read a few books I am looking forward to reading.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Blustery day... I've spent the day so far puttering around doing small tasks that include sweeping up even more sand in the bathroom, making pesto from the basil in our garden, and hanging Sean's posters on the wall above the buffet in the dining room. I probably should have spent the day raking and bagging leaves but just couldn't get motivated. We went to Waimanalo Beach yesterday. The breeze off the ocean was actually pretty cool and for a change we moved from a shady area under the trees to a sandy area in the sun. There were quite a few Japanese wedding couples getting photos taken on the beach. The photographers are normally dressed in black and the bride and groom in white, which made for some pretty striking photos taken by me. I joked to Michael that I was the wedding photographer's photographer. Of course I have no idea what I am going to do with the photos I took but it was fun taking them.

I am having dinner with Ellen tonight. I believe she leaves on Thursday to return to Tucson.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

I had a chat with Donna this morning while I was out on my walk. It was good talking to her and catching up on family stuff. I am really sorry to hear though that Joel is still in the hospital. Shannon and Darrell must be pretty anxious particularly after all the issues Shannon had earlier that resulted in the C-Section. I feel optimistic that all will be well but they have still had a rough start as a family.

Something I realized when talking to Donna is how comforting it was to be able to share feelings related to the loss of both Mom and Dad. We all seem to be coping in our own ways but even after all this time the fact that they are gone is still painful and I suspect it will always be.

Friday, October 23, 2015

The weather was perfect today - sunny, breezy with low humidity. Michael went surfing in Waikiki while I chilled under a tree with a book. We went to Kona Brewing for our Friday night dinner date. So a pretty good day and feeling lucky to be in Hawaii.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

I had lunch today with Ellen. Her visit to Honolulu is work related. She confirmed what I had guessed - because she is a state employee, university policy dictates that she is supposed to be living in-state so she tries to be here physically occasionally to maintain the ruse. I caught up on her family news. It sounds like her living in Tucson close to her parents has been beneficial to them. Eventually, she would like to relocate to an area closer to her daughter, wherever that might be. We are going to try to get together one more time before she returns to Tucson next week. She plans to return to Hawaii on December 8th, with her daughter arriving on Christmas Eve.

One of the neighbors (Robbie) was speaking to Michael earlier and invited us to a party in mid-November. I hope Michael follows through on attending as I have been having a hard time attaching names to faces on our street. I smile and say hello to everyone when I am out for a walk but for the most part have no idea who is who and I feel a bit shameful about it. Conversely (not sure that's the word I want), I know the names of several women on the other side of the valley and where they live - often stopping to chat with them while out walking. Go figure - maybe it's a man vs. woman thing.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Feeling sore after the beating I took this morning crashing into the shore on the paddle board multiple times. But I had fun. Michael pushed the board into the waves so I could experience the ride, which was exhilarating, but the board was too wide for me to effectively use my arms/hands for control. So each ride ended with me crashing onto the beach and getting pummeled by the waves and scraped by the shoreline rocks and coral. I definitely want to do this again but maybe on a less rough day or further out so that I am not part of the shore action. Feeling lucky though that my guy wanted to give me a good time. ;)

I've been having a hard time sleeping the past few nights. Sunday night I woke up at 3am because of a bad dream and had trouble falling back to sleep. Monday night I kept waking up every few hours. And last night I went to bed and didn't fall asleep for two plus hours. I have no idea on the cause but I am finding that getting up early in the morning to walk has been an effort. I have been talking myself into it and normally I just do it. I am actually tired right now (3:15pm) but am afraid to take a short nap for fear I won't be able to sleep later. Sigh...

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

After a rainy start this morning, it turned out to be a sunny breezy day. With the exception of walking around the neighborhood this morning, we have been at home. I took care of housework chores that included cleaning the dreaded bathroom (which I have never liked doing). I also caught up on email, paid bills, etc. Michael spent the day in his studio drawing and painting. He mentioned starting work on a bigger piece so he must have some ideas he wants to put on paper or canvas.

Shannon and Darrell's son Joel was born this morning and I found myself feeling really excited and happy for them. I heard the phone ding at 4:45am and jumped out of bed to check if it was baby news. Shannon ended up having a c-section which I suspect was a disappointment (projecting my own feelings after my c-section) but having a healthy son makes up for all the discomfort.

Shannon's Facebook post: After a long induction process that began on Friday at 10am and went nowhere, little Joel Conrad Ford was born on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 4:17am via C-Section. He came into this world weighing 6lbs 9oz and is the most adorable thing I've ever seen.

Monday, October 19, 2015

The laptop saga continues. Yesterday, much to my chagrin, I was unable to start my computer once again - all I got was a black screen. After repeating "fuck" several times, Michael caught on really quickly and said I guess we are going to the Apple store. I walked into the Apple store, told them why I was there (yes, I was civil) and they moved me to the front of the "Genius Bar line" when they realized I had just picked up my computer after a repair by their service center a few days ago. This seemed to throw the guy that quarterbacks their appointments a little off of his game as he mentioned he really needed to be kept informed. Long story short, the tech was unable to start it and went in the back to speak with the manager who ended up giving me a store credit for the original cost of my laptop. Something I wish had been done a month ago after my third visit for service. I basically traded in my obviously flawed laptop for the same model and am hoping this is the end of this long drawn out drama.

A recurring nightmare woke me up at 3am this morning. I found myself lost in a strange city with no shoes, wallet, car keys or phone. Usually when I have this recurring dream I at least have my shoes on and a purse. Ugh, getting back to sleep without slipping back into the same dream was a struggle. I wish I knew what the trigger is.

Despite being tired from a lack of sleep, I walked 8.5 miles this morning and realized I could have kept going. The usual reasons I end up heading home when I am out walking are my bladder or the battery running out on my iPhone. I think the GPS on the Nike app that tracks my walks burns up battery life. Michael and I joke all the time that if the physical activity we engage in doesn't get tracked it never happened.

No news yet on Shannon - after four days she must be exhausted. For her sake, I hope this baby cooperates and comes soon.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

I picked up my laptop Thursday night and have spent the last two days getting it back in order. I added back music and photos (easy because of the Cloud), downloaded Office, set up email, bookmarked sites I visit frequently in the browser, etc and finally feel like I am back to normal. I wish I could say I felt confident that my laptop is "fixed" but...

We had Michael's family over for a potluck dinner last Sunday. As usual, there was way too much food! Leslie brought over her Little Joe grill and we grilled teriyaki steak, ribs and char sui chicken. Michael's sister Joanne was here and she bought over a huge box of manapua and these delicious pork ball thingies that I do not know the name of but ate far too many of. I stepped on the scale the next morning and gasped. Joanne seemed to have a productive visit. I spent last Saturday with her and Leslie - we picked up Marc (who I haven't seen in 20 plus years) and went clothes and shoe shopping. We also visited Colleen's grave. Seeing Marc again was interesting (this is me not really knowing what word to use). He has a certain charm to him but the years of drug abuse have certainly taken their toll.

Michael installed a shelf in one of the kitchen cabinets today that added a bit more storage. He is also going to add a shelf under the cabinets that I plan to use to store mason jars full of crackers, nuts and other food stuff. So many projects, so much time.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

I ended up taking my laptop to the Apple Store while the fan was running so they could check it out when the problem was occuring. The tech assisting me recommended that I leave it so their service department could run diagnostics on it. He said that they may end up reinstalling the operating system. Fortunately I removed most of my files and photos before taking it in. It is still disppointing to not feel confident about one's computer. I am using my marginal typing skills to type this on my iPad Mini.

Monday, October 5, 2015

My laptop continues to be worrisome - the fan has started running non-stop again about 20 minutes after I power it up. I took it to the Apple Store a few weeks ago and "the geniuses" were unable to find anything wrong with it. And I felt like they thought I was some kind of computer hypochondriac. So I am not sure what my next action should be - let it go and see if it crashes again? Big, big sigh...

Saturday, October 3, 2015

I have been enjoying the cooler temperatures here, especially at night. It's been great sleeping weather. I actually wore a top with long sleeves last night when we went into downtown Honolulu for First Friday. We tried a new restaurant called Square Barrels (beer and burgers). Service and food were decent but it was one of those places that was so loud it was impossible to carry on a conversation. But there was a lot going on at the Hawaii State Art Museum. Music, food/drink, vendors, and of course art so a really great evening out. Michael's sister is visiting from Florida. She and Leslie dropped by the house on Thursday and it sounds like we are joining the family tomorrow for dinner somewhere. I have to say his sister looks incredible for an 81 year old. I am hoping I am as spry and mentally alert.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Are birthday cards a dying tradition? Don't get me wrong. I am not upset or complaining but on my last birthday while I received lots of birthday wishes on Facebook, I only received three birthday cards (from Michael, Kathy and an old work friend). I get why Facebook is used for birthday wishes as I use it myself - it's faster, cheaper and doesn't require advanced planning. Type out your greeting, post and you are done. Sending a card though requires a lot more effort and planning as you need to purchase or make a card and mail it hopefully in time to get it to the birthday person before or on their birthday. And while I sincerely appreciated all the Facebook wishes I received, I think I appreciated the three cards I received a little more. A reminder to me to do a better job sending cards to my loved ones.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

I was touched by Ryan's post on FB today. "Came to visit while cleaning up grandpa's beds and yard. Still can't believe they are gone. Memories like crazy in that yard." I live too far away but I imagine that for Donna who drives by Mom and Dad's old house daily and other family members who have been going by the house to help with various tasks it is a bittersweet experience. I miss seeing Mom on the front porch and Dad puttering in the yard and like Ryan I can't believe sometimes that they are gone. When I do make it back to Michigan to visit, there will be some sadness at their loss.

Unlike most of my siblings, I only lived at the Lennane address for two years (1965-1967). It was the first house we lived in that wasn't a rental or army housing. I remember the first day we moved in and after exploring the neighborhood having an anxious moment of not being sure which house was ours. Back then all the houses that were the same style were painted white and looked pretty much the same. The kitchen used to have a formica table under the window and there was a radio on it. My bedroom was the one next to the living room. On really cold winter mornings, Mom sometimes drove me to school - her winter coat over her nightgown, rollers in her hair, coffee cup in hand. You have to love that woman. I had a crush on Steve Bushell, one of our neighbors, that never went anywhere. And in the summer of 1966, I went on my first date with Frank, the guy who delivered groceries to our neighborhood. He asked me to go to a Rolling Stones concert at Cobo Hall. I think Mom was pretty excited about my date because she bought me a "hip" outfit from the Northville Hudson's where she worked. Frank and I started going "steady" after that and he used to bribe Jerry and Joe with quarters to get lost when they would follow us to Claude Allyson Park. The following summer we moved to Hawaii.

Hopefully a young family will buy their old house and build their own memories

Monday, September 28, 2015

I took care of some "business" today that included trips to UPS to mail my Vizio TV to their repair center in California, the Post Office to mail a package, and Foodland to grocery shop. I also spent some quality time on the phone with HMSA to find out what the heck is going on with my dental plan. When I went on Medicare this month my medical plan changed to one for seniors but when HMSA cancelled my old plan they also cancelled my dental plan. Three phone calls later, I've been told my dental has been reinstated but I was told that two weeks ago so who knows.

Old age has finally caught up with Michael. He is still really fit but has complained that he isn't able to stand up as quickly when catching waves while out surfing. He also mentioned he is a little stiff when he stands up after sitting for awhile. Um...

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Blustery day with a mixture of wind, rain and sun. It's a huge contrast to the heat and humidity we have been experiencing the past six weeks. It looks like we are going to have some serious leaf raking and yard clean-up to do this coming week.

Michael and I went to Costco yesterday to pick up a couple of prescriptions and I ended up buying a queen size air bed. I inflated it in the living room and lounged on it while watching TV last night and it is actually pretty comfortable. But it does make noise when you move around on it and I wasn't sure if that was because it was on a hard concrete floor vs. say a rug, for example? One of the prescriptions I picked up was an Epi-pen which the pharmacist showed me how to inject. I am hoping I never, ever have to use it.

We are having pork chops for dinner and I am braising red/green cabbage and apple slices in balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. I love the sweet sour smell of it simmering (and am sure Michael is gagging). Last night we had polish sausage hot dogs and I found myself craving sauerkraut so I am hoping my cabbage dish will be satisfying. Yum...

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Remember to live... I saw this quote in a book I am reading and it really resonates with me. Too often we get so caught up in all the crap of just making it through the day that we lose sight of what's really important to us. And while I know it is counterproductive to look back and say I wish I could have a do over, I do have regrets about a lot of missed opportunities. I wish I had traveled more and taken more chances. And worried less. I really want to make the most of and enjoy my now limited time on this earth.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Michael and I said yes to helping out Hawaii's economy today. I won't get into all the details but I bought a baby gift for Shannon and purchased a few Christmas gifts. I also bought an inexpensive small blender at Macy's so I can make protein shakes. And Michael spent a fortune on bicycle stuff after having something break on his Trek. We even went to Longs because they had Taco Bell sauces, shells and seasoning on sale, plus coffee, and more. Whew, and we still have grocery shopping to do.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Michael and I went downtown today to go to a portrait show at the Honolulu Museum of Art gallery inside the First Hawaiian Center building. We parked in the bank building's lot. I was obviously surprised when I gave the parking ticket to the security guy as we were leaving and he said "$25" because I blurted out "you've got to be kidding!" Admittedly after looking at the artwork we did leave the building to grab lunch and do some shopping but $25 for a little over two hours of parking shocked me nevertheless. This isn't Chicago, after all. And there were no signs posted to warn naive parkers like us that there was a $5 per half hour charge for the privilege of taking up space in their lot. The security dude suggested (and not nicely) that if I was doing business in the bank I should have inquired about parking validation. Fair enough and fortunately the kind bank staff member I approached validated my ticket for a portion of the parking and I ended up only paying $10. Michael says the next time we go downtown during the day we are taking the bus.

So I am typing this on my laptop, which I picked up from the Apple Store this afternoon. Their testing indicated that all is good and I want it to be true but I can't shake this nagging paranoia I feel. I kind of feel like I have no choice but to buy Apple Care just in case. But if you asked me if after this experience with this laptop would I buy another Apple product, I would respond absolutely so there is that.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

I just borrowed Michael's keyboard and it sure makes typing on the iPad easier. I received a call last night from Apple genius Kyle regarding my laptop. He has been unabe to replicate the problem so I suspect I will be told tomorrow to come and pick it up. Big, big sigh.

I am still working on getting artwork/photos framed and on a wall. I've mentioned this before but we have far more artwork than wall space. I am trying to avoid just putting stuff up nillywilly so am switching out a few frames to give the finished look a more unified appearance.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

A sad day today as I mourn the loss of my laptop. I got it back just a few weeks ago after being repaired by Apple only to have the fan start running continuously again when the computer is on. Of course nothing seemed to be wrong with it when I took it in but they are keeping it to run diagnostic tests on it. I am not sure what to think anymore. Issues with my TV continue as well. Vizio sent me a new remote which as I predicted did not correct the problem. The rep I spoke to yesterday was quite nice and after trying a few things said it sounded like the issue was with the TV. She is sending me a box to mail it to their repair center. So I seem to be on a negative roll with my electronics.

I did however, have a lovely birthday yesterday. Michael and I spent a few relaxing hours at the beach mid-day and we had a nice evening in Waikiki that included dinner at the Moana Surfrider and a walk on the beach following dinner. The table we had overlooked the ocean and we were treated to a beautiful sunset. It was the perfect birthday and it was nice to be able to celebrate with Michael.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

My 65th birthday is in two days. This is a big one in my mind and I am not really sure why. Maybe because the government now formally recognizes me as a senior citizen. There are a lot of things I miss as I age but one of them in particular shows how shallow I really am. I am going to regret posting this but I miss being told I am pretty by strangers. It always embarrassed me and it's been a long time but I still miss it. And I miss being told I am pretty by my husband which I guess shows that even after all these years of marriage I am still insecure. Old and shallow...

Monday, September 14, 2015

The trade winds have returned - one of the sweetest sounds I have heard in a long time. But it's also been raining on and off all day. But neither rain nor wind nor the dark before dawn shall deter me from my goal of walking at least 10K on Monday mornings. I left the house this morning in the dark at 5:45am with my umbrella and managed to walk 7.19 miles in the rain. I was feeling pretty damp when I got home but it was a good way to start the week .

I continue to have computer issues. A few days ago, the fan on my laptop began running continuously when it is on. I ran a hardware diagnostic test today and I got a message basically saying the battery is not charging properly. WTF, I am pretty sure this was the issue the last time I took it to the Genius Bar. So I return to the Apple Store on Saturday to visit one of their geniuses yet again. Maybe the third time will be the charm but sigh, I am so out of love with my laptop right now.

And don't even get me started on my Vizio TV. After this experience I doubt I will ever buy another Vizio product. Their tech support was not world class as advertised. At this point I am thinking the problem is with the TV not the remote. The power button on the back of the TV will not work unless I unplug the TV and then plug it back in and then very quickly turn the TV on and change the channel if need be. I explained this to their so called tech person over the phone and her solution is a new remote. Uh? I am so hoping I am wrong on this one but I am really skeptical a new remote is going to fix what ails the TV. We shall see.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Rainy, rainy day but it has cooled things down at least We got a fair amount of rain Friday and Saturday as well with lots of warnings about flash flooding but unlike today the heat never dissipated. We ended up just hanging around the house today. I have dinner all prepped - we are having jalapeno and cilantro chicken with bean sprouts, a dish I first had at Paradise in Ann Arbor. I just need to stir fry the ingredients and make rice. I made extra shredded chicken and plan to use it to make a Mexican style dinner this week as well - maybe something with tortillas and beans.

I installed a step tracking app on my phone thinking I'd join the movement to take 10,000 steps daily but have already realized a big flaw in my thinking process. I am not someone that carries my phone with me all day, especially if I am at home or working in the yard so I'd miss a lot of steps. I guess I can see the attraction of a wrist activity tracker like the Fitbit or Apple Watch but unless it was petite and water resistant I don't think I'd like it (which pretty much eliminates the Apple Watch that I have to admit having a short love affair with when it first came out). And I did notice a discrepancy in mileage this morning between the Nike app I use to track my walking and the step app I installed so I don't know how accurate step trackers are.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

There is a kind of hush all over the house - we are back to the routine of just the two of us again and we have barely left the house. The heat and humidity continue and from what the newspaper says this may be the new norm for awhile. I guess it's related to El Nino. The newspaper also reported there are no a/c units left in any of the stores. I tell you - we are in crisis mode here. It's hot, hot, hot. Hopefully it will cool down by December (although the room I planned to offer to Butch and April when they visit does have a/c).

We had new screens installed yesterday and they look pretty nice. We used a small two person company that consists of a father and his daughter. We probably should have gotten a few different estimates but I really liked the owner's daughter when she came out to give us an estimate and found myself just wanting to give them the business. So no more warped duct taped up screens. This makes the third project that involved an outside company we have completed - the sewer line has been replaced, the trees trimmed, and now new screens. We contacted someone to redo our wiring as well so hopefully that will happen in the near future. The driveway/carport project has been replaced with a simpler DIY plan that involves pavers. Michael is also trying to patch part of the driveway with cement. The yard is slowly coming along with the addition of plants and we now actually have grass as well. Michael put laminate flooring in the back three rooms and we have painted walls. New flooring in the rest of the house is not a big priority right now and is on hold. The house has become our home...

I made reservations for my 65th birthday dinner on Friday at the Moana Surfrider Beachhouse. Hopefully it will be a nice evening weather-wise as the restaurant is adjacent to Waikiki Beach. And I will be officially old.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015 (posted on Wednesday...)

Tuesday was Joe's last day and I was sad to see him leave but I suspect it will be a relief for him to get back to his own home and AC. The heat and humidity was unrelenting the entire time he was here due to tropical depressions caused by Ignacio and then Jimena as they passed the Islands. Jimena will be causing heavy rains over the next few days as it approaches Oahu.

Joe and I got up early Tuesday morning and walked around Diamond Head. We stopped at the site of our old housing at Fort Ruger and took pictures. It is completely overgrown but we were able to find the steps and the foundation is still there. Kapiolani Community College was breaking ground when we were there with plans to build a culinary school so our timing was serendipitous as I have a feeling that the construction will remove what little is left of the Cannon Club and our old housing.

Much to my amusement, I noticed while Joe was here that the Pedit reluctance to make a decision that impacts the group is still alive. I get that Joe did not want to "impose" as I am the same way but there were a few days I felt badly that we didn't do more.

I am continuing my bad luck streak with electronics. The remote for the TV in my office has decided not to work. Vizio's support website had a list of "fixes" and I did them all - I power cycled both the remote and the TV and changed the batteries and still nada. I tried to call their support line but after 30 minutes of listening to Muzak sent them an email instead. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that they respond. I may invest in an inexpensive universal remote to see if that might fix the problem - just hoping it's not the TV. It is still under warranty but from what I've read online Vizio's customer service stinks.

Monday, September 7, 2015

We woke up to thunder and rain. Although it cleared up we ended up heading to Ward Plaza and Ala Moana Mall to enjoy some AC. We checked out the hula show at Ala Moana for a few minutes before heading home. We ended up heading to California Pizza Kitchen at Kahala Mall for dinner. There was quite a line when we got there but the "boys" found a comfy place against the wall to sit to wait.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Lazy day today recuperating from all the driving yesterday. We ended up going out after dinner to shoot the sunset from the Hawaii Kai lookout. Joe also took photos at Makapuu but it was too dark there for my rookie camera skills. I can't wait to see his photos once he gets them posted.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Yesterday turned out to be both pretty nice weather wise and also a very busy day. We took the stand-up boards out in front of the valley. I managed to catch a couple of small waves and even saw a big sea turtle. Joe seemed to enjoy himself. From there we went to Waimanalo Bay and Michael and Joe went out on the boogie boards. There was pretty big surf on-shore and I am sure Joe got pummeled a few times but he was a really good sport about it. Last night we went to downtown Honolulu and ate at Murphy's, walked through Chinatown, then visited a few galleries including the Hawaii State Art Museum. I ran into an art instructor (Duane Preble) from my UH college days (1969ish) which was kind of fun. He seemed pleased to be remembered after all these years. Nice day and evening.

Early this morning, I drove Joe out to Koko Head and he did the steep climb up to the top of the crater - what can be described as a sweat fest for sure. Then the three of us went to Lyon's Arboretum in Manoa Valley and hiked up to a waterfall. Aiming to please, Michael drove up the Roundtop/Tantalus loop and we took in the spectacular views of Manoa Valley, Diamond Head and Honolulu. From there we went to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl Crater. We visited Michael's father's grave. And as usual, it took us some time to locate it. I do have to say that it's a very quiet serene locale.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

It has been raining all day so we checked out Re-Use Hawaii for something to do. It looks like we can pick up ceramic tile pretty inexpensively to do the back splash in the kitchen. I also saw some drawer pulls I thought were pretty nice including some still in the package from Pottery Barn. I was hoping to find a simple glass cover for the front door light but it looks like Michael has more grandiose plans than me. ;) We showed Joe the homeless camp in Kakaako and then headed for a tour of Manoa Valley. There was a huge down pour of rain while we were at a shopping center in Manoa that flooded several intersections making for a slow go on the way home.

Rainy day, rain all day, Ain't no use in gettin' uptight. Just let it groove its own way. Let it drain your worries away, yeah. Lay back and groove on a rainy day, hey. Lay back and dream on a rainy day. (Jimi Hendrix)

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Today would have been Dad's 87th birthday. A day that normally involved eating Chinese food and if we had not eaten lunch out today I would have considered suggesting it for dinner tonight to celebrate Dad's birthday.

I did the happy dance last night when I received the news that my laptop was fixed. According to the repair summary, the logic and magsafe boards were replaced. My laptop's symptoms were listed as no power/dead unit which means like Lazarus my laptop has risen from the dead.

We've been fairly busy enjoying our time with Joe. Monday we drove around the island. It was raining on and off but we did make a fair number of photo op stops that included Haleiwa, Waimea Bay, the Pipeline, Chinaman's Hat, and a few others. Early yesterday morning Joe and I did the Diamond Head Crater. The crater opened at 6am and much to my surprise I found myself in queue at 5:45am with at least a dozen tour buses full of mostly Japanese tourists. There were a hell of a lot of steps as you got closer to the upper bunkers and I had to stop a few times to catch my breath but the view was well worth the hike up. I am pretty pleased with the photographs I took. Michael had a dentist appointment at noon and we went shopping at Costco and Longs after his appointment. Dinner was at home and then we went to Kahala Mall to pick up my laptop. This morning Joe and I hiked the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail. It's a pretty easy hike and we both took a lot of photos - Joe with his nice camera on a tripod and me with my little point and shoot. Because of hurricane Ignacio the waves were pretty big in the Makapuu and Sandy beach areas and I was lucky enough to get some decent shots. This afternoon, we all went to the Honolulu Museum of Art and I must admit air conditioning was a big factor in us going there. And now we are just trying to stay cool at home and it is hotter than hell...

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Finally some relief - what a difference the trade winds make. It's just a temporary reprieve but I will take it. Joe arrives tomorrow and while it sounds like Hurricane Ignacio will be a miss I expect the rain and humidity to return.

Friday, May 29, 2015

I wish sometimes that I could take a mental break from myself, a moratorium of sorts on the sadness and sense of loss and isolation that I can't seem to shake. Add to that my petty hurt and jealousy. Inhale, exhale, ohm…

Sunday, May 24, 2015

It is day four of having a visitor at the house. I am not sure if this is amusing or irritating but Michael has been taking her to places I have wanted to go since moving here (North Shore, hiking...). I guess it's a good thing and I've enjoyed having an extra someone here. She has two more days and will be leaving on Wednesday. This morning we went to Ala Moana Beach Park to stand up paddle. I think we are going to the "top" beach per Dr. Beach tomorrow (Waimanalo Beach).

My neck isn't as stiff as it was so my shoulder tightness and pain have eased which is a big relief. Whew...

Tuesday, May 19. 2015

Today was a housework and shopping kind of day. I bought a stephanotis plant today and am keeping my fingers crossed that it survives. It's a vine so if it does manage to thrive I will need to eventually get a trellis for it. It's a bit significant in that our neighbor at the time provided stephanotis blossoms on my wedding day to Nanu and me to make leis.

I have a bit of a stiff neck - I think from carrying both my beach chair on my back yesterday and a heavy beach bag. I've done it before though with no issues so I am not sure what to think. I've been doing the stretches I learned in PT so am hoping they help. I think I may ice it for 15-20 minutes before I go to bed to be on the safe side. I hate being this paranoid but I just don't want to take any chances given my past history. Sigh...

Monday, May 18, 2015

We have our first mainland guest arriving on Wednesday. She is one of Michael's former rowers and I am guessing we are in for an activity packed week. She sent Michael a list of things she was interested in doing that includes hiking, surfing, paddling and a list of beaches and restaurants. Should be fun. :) I need to get her room ready - stuff like washing the bedding and relocating some of my stuff.

I just hit 1700 miles (Nike app) and broke a prior time record for a 10k this morning. Definitely having the time in the morning to walk is a luxury and I feel lucky. I am still interested though in doing "something" but haven't quite figured out what that something is yet. I wouldn't mind a part-time job or doing some volunteer work but am not interested in a long commute which limits opportunities.

Ellen is in Hawaii to attend the University of Hawaii's graduation ceremony which happened Saturday night. She leaves this week sometime. We had dinner with her and her friend last week. She seems to be doing well and is making a life for herself in Arizona.

Friday, May 15, 2015

This morning Michael and I went paddle boarding at Ala Moana Beach Park. I was reminded once again how beautiful and peaceful it is to be out in the ocean. I was treated to the sight of a sea turtle today and a large fish jumped out of the water a few feet in the air right next to the board. We went to Lyon Arboretum this afternoon and I would like to go back better prepared to hike the trails. My flip flops just weren't cutting it on the rocky paths. And Michael seemed to attract a lot of mosquitos - thankfully they didn't seem to find me that appealing.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Busy day. After walking 5 plus miles this morning, Michael and I went to the Re-Use Center in Kaka'ako to see what they had there. It’s a pretty cool place with lots of stuff - definitely worth checking there the next time we are looking for shelving, etc. We discovered that there was a park next door we haven't been to - Kaka'ako Waterfront aka Point Panic Park. It was built on the site of an old municipal landfill and is really nicely landscaped with lots of picnic areas and pathways including one along the shoreline. The one drawback though is that there is a rather large homeless tent city adjacent to the park. We went to Ala Moana Shopping Center next and had lunch at the Mai Tai Bar and then two drinks later we walked around the mall for a few hours. Michael has an app on his phone that measures distance and said we walked over 4 miles at the mall (and the park) so maybe shopping should be considered exercise. I also found out today you are not allowed to sit on the floor at Barnes and Noble to read. Just saying…

Monday, May 11, 2015

It turns out I have mildly leaky mitral, tricuspid and pulmonic heart valves, diagnosed because of a heart murmur. The doctor said no treatment is necessary at this time and it's just something to keep an eye on for now. I am not sure how I feel about this new health issue, as I really haven't spent the time yet to figure out what it means. However, I went to Longs following my appointment and bought a few items to address my anxiety: a Mr. Goodbar, a box of Hawaiian Host Toffee Macs (chocolate and toffee covered macadamia nuts) and a bag of cheese puffs. Better living through junk food?

Sunday, May 10, 2015

I got my guilty pleasure McDonald’s breakfast fix this morning and it was good. I may have to do that more often. Michael and I spent the day assembling shelves for the living room. He put together the shelves while I assembled the rattan baskets that came with the two units we bought. There is a lot of screwing going on. I am still arranging pottery and books but it looks pretty nice.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to get the results of the echocardiogram I had three plus weeks ago. I am not sure if I should be worried that I was asked to make an appointment.

Looking forward to Madmen tonight!

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Bouncing over a white cloud, killing the blues. I have been feeling weepy on and off all day despite efforts to the contrary. I am not sure where all this emotion is coming from but I haven't been able to control it. This is one of those days I wish I had a sibling with similar emotions to commiserate with. It doesn't help that Michael is peevish (a very Room With a View word) and is caught up in his own issues. I miss you Mom.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

I have mentioned this before but every once and awhile I find my eyes tearing out of the blue as I think about the loss of both of my parents this past year. I am not sure what the trigger is but with Mother's Day coming up soon I do find myself thinking about mom a lot this week. Mother's Day has never been about me; it's always been her day. There was often a last minute scramble to pull something together whether it be a brunch or barbecue or going out for dinner (usually Chinese). I remember last year's search for a hanging basket of yellow begonias. She expected us to make a fuss and we didn't want to let her down. This will be my first motherless Mother's Day and I think it's going to be a sad one for me.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I believe this is another one of those days like St. Patrick's day that people use as an excuse to drink. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

So it looks like the May photo challenge has become competitive which wasn't the intent at all for me. I was just looking for something fun to do. I don't think I like the pressure. I'm such a wimp.

Michael has been working on his office. For those familiar with our house here, it's the room with the sliding shoji doors right off the living room. Now flash back to the basement at our old house in Michigan and try to imagine Michael trying to fit all his "stuff" in the room here. It's a challenge. It looks like we are off to City Mill to buys some shelves.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Michael and I decided to do a May photo challenge. We will be taking and posting photos each day at our respective blogs.

We went to Kailua yesterday and had lunch at Buzz's and then spent hours at Target. After visiting both the Apple store and the AT&T kiosk at Kahala Mall earlier this week, Michael ended up buying his iPhone6 at Target because he liked the mobile sales people. Go figure... but he has said in the past that Target is his calming place. We spent today on house projects. I painted two of the walls in the room Michael is using as his office and raked leaves. I also made a big pot of chili for dinner.

Donna shared photos of Elizabeth's graduation. I am really proud of her and hope that eventually she finds a career doing something she really likes.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

I am having a string of bad luck this week. A favorite Michigan glass broke while I was doing dishes and my clip-on sunglasses fell in the toilet while it was flushing and disappeared. But worst of all, I received two emails from MetroPCS thanking me for becoming a customer and for my payment. I called customer service and someone used my name and email address to purchase phone service. They would not help me over the phone because they cannot ID me and suggested I drop by one of their corporate locations for assistance. The problem is the closest one is in California. Because a payment was made I am concerned this means this someone has also opened a charge account in my name as well. I checked my credit report this morning and didn't see anything suspicious but did request the credit reporting agencies put a fraud alert on my info. I guess I will be monitoring my accounts closely until I figure this out. Argh!

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Almost Art... Me wishing I knew more about cameras and photography. I took a series of kind of abstract figurative photos the other day that I would like to do something with. I wonder if I should look into taking a class?

Michael put in laminate flooring in our bedroom last week. It looks really nice. I guess I need to buy a microfiber mop to keep it clean. I am thinking I might check to see if the Swifter mops might work. The room I use as my office is next so I have some packing up and moving of stuff to do. Michael is rethinking whether laminate flooring is the way to go though for the remainder of the house. He's considering ceramic tile as an option.

It's been muggy lately - damp enough that my tank top has been stuck to my body. I almost envy guys being able to run around without shirts on. There at least seems to be a breeze today.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Sometimes the intensity of random feelings catches me off guard. I can be in the middle of a conversation or working on something and I will suddenly think about my parents and tear up. As disconcerting as this can be, I am actually glad that it happens. It reminds me that I was lucky to have them for as long as I did. They could be frustrating to be around and yes, there were times I found myself gritting my teeth or feeling resentful about spending so much time dealing with their issues. But at the same time they made me smile, especially my mother. Mom, Dad - I miss you and something tells me that my feelings for you will never go away.

Monday, April 20, 2015

I purchased a display case for Dad's funeral flag on Amazon and am working on filling the area that is underneath the section of the case that holds the flag. I put together this collage of photos and have a few military pins and patches to add but it seems lacking. I am finding myself wishing I had an official looking document or maybe more pins and/or patches? His dog tags would be awesome. I am sure it will look fine once it is done but it is after all in my nature to self-critique.

I woke up around 4am this morning feeling melancholy and weepy and couldn't get back to sleep so finally got up and caught up on email, etc. I am sure I will be tired later. Although this was not the case early this morning, I continue to have disturbing dreams that wake me up at least once a week in which I am alone, lost and it is dark. I looked this up to see what this kind of dream supposedly means and most sites indicate that I may be worried and insecure about the path that I am taking in life. I may feel isolated or am adjusting to a new situation in which the rules and conditions are changing. Sounds about right.

Friday, April 17, 2015

It's all about me. Last week Michael and I went to the Spalding House (Honolulu Museum of Art) and he took several photos of me with his new camera. I can be a bit fussy about photos of me but I actually liked several of them.

We went to a restaurant called the Shack tonight for dinner. It is right on the marina in Hawaii Kai, a really casual bar food kind of place. Reminded me a little of the Sidetrack in Depot Town.

Michael said something today that I've thought a few times myself as well. It still feels a little like we are on vacation vs. living here. And that may be because we haven't adjusted yet to not working and we haven't involved ourselves in the community the way we did while living in Ann Arbor. Time will tell and I suppose if a few years from now we are feeling the same way we may need to reassess the decision to move here

Thursday, April 16, 2015

I went to Queens Medical Center in downtown Honolulu today for an echocardiogram. The technician said it takes a few days to get the results. I am keeping my fingers crossed that all is okay. I joked with Michael that I could see Mom having this procedure and singing "Baby, baby, can't you hear my heart beat?" By the way, the main entrance lobby of Queen's has really beautiful wood floors and Hawaiian style furnishings and artwork. Really nice...

After the procedure Michael and I went to the Manoa Valley shopping plaza and had Nathan hot dogs. We also did some grocery shopping at Safeway and picked up some locally grown veggies at the farmer's market. Not a bad day overall despite having to go to the hospital earlier for a procedure.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

I had a very close call this morning with a big pickup truck. I was waiting to cross the street at an intersection with both a stop sign and a crosswalk. The truck stopped I am guessing only because he saw the stop sign because he apparently didn't see me. I stepped into the street at the crosswalk; he stepped on the gas and then saw me at the last minute and slammed on his brakes. I was about two inches from being crushed or mangled and apparently found religion at that moment because I muttered "Jesus Christ" out loud. A real heart pounder.

And after three nights of not being able to sleep I finally slept through the night only getting up a few times early this morning to use the restroom.

Monday, April 13, 2015 Sometimes when I am out walking I worry about stepping on lizards. Really...

I bit the bullet today and had someone who is not named Paul cut my hair. Connie was very nice and the cut was okay but only just okay. Also I do not like the way the salon's shampoo and conditioner smell. Will I go back?

Saturday, April 11, 2015

It always seems weird that it is already tomorrow for most of my family. I am guessing they wouldn't be too happy if I got an itch to call them. "Hello, it's Sugar. Hope I didn't wake you..."

I lived on passion orange drinks when I was in college. In retrospect they probably gave me quite the sugar rush but it's what was stocked in the vending machines on campus along with guava and passion orange/guava. I bought a quart of passion orange juice at the supermarket last week and I must say it's pretty tasty. I've also discovered that it's delicious with vodka and cherry juice but that's another story.

I started my "tanning my white middle section" project today and am not sure I made much progress. I had to hide out in the backyard but it was pretty relaxing and I managed to finish the book I've been reading. And Michael hung out with me saying encouraging things like, "I like your bottom." (wink, wink)

We were concerned our mango tree wouldn't have any mangos this year after a pretty dramatic trimming just as it began to flower. Most of the mango trees in the neighborhood have fruit (not ripe yet) and we had pretty much nothing. This week though it began to flower so there is hope yet.

We went to an exhibit yesterday at the Honolulu Museum of Art Spalding House. One of Michael's former professors at the University of Hawaii was part of the exhibit and it was good to see his work. The grounds at Spalding House are beautifully landscaped with lots of elevations and meandering paths. It was a really nice way to spend part of the day.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

We are making some progress painting. I've painted the back bedroom walls and one of the bedroom doors. Michael has been working on front and back door trim, the back lanai walls and the back door. Our gardening efforts so far have been borderline pathetic. We bought lettuce and parsley, a tomato plant and a chili pepper plant. Some critter has been eating the pepper plant so it's looking a bit ragged. And the plants the neighbor gave Michael last week are wilted.

I bought a bikini bottom yesterday but am not comfortable wearing it in public yet. I already had a top. I may try tanning my very white and untoned middle section in the backyard first. Darker colors are slimming right? Like the Lane Bryant ad says, I'm no angel.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Michael left me for some surfer chick he's been secretly meeting to go surfing with. I feel like such an April Fool.

Michael got the camera he has been talking about buying forever today. If interested, it's a refurbished Olympus Pen E-PL7 14-42 mm. I am happy he finally made a decision and got a new camera. We all need a new "toy" occasionally. Although chocolate also works for me.

After my eye appointment this morning we went to this shaved ice place in the Aina Haina Shopping Center called Uncle Clays. It turned out that Michael and the owner grew up together and both attended and graduated from Kalani HS. He’s a very nice guy and the shaved ice and ice cream dish we ordered was really ono.

Our Vietnamese neighbor has taken a liking to Michael. She calls him uncle and has been giving him plants - aloe, basil and mint yesterday and today several packages of seeds. She must have noticed that he is working out in the yard all the time. It's a budding relationship.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

I finally opened the paint can and got the paint roller out and started painting our bedroom walls white yesterday. Wall prep could have been better but it's a start. I think Michael plans to paint the trim and the spots near the roofline I could not reach so I may tackle the walls in the room I have been using as my office next. There is nothing like a new coat of paint to freshen up a room.

We went to Kuhio Beach for a few hours today. Michael went surfing (I think at a spot called Popular's). I rather like that going to the beach is not a big deal. In fact I keep my beach bag ready so all I have to do is throw a bag with my phone and wallet in it and I am good to go. Beach chairs, etc. are kept in the car.

Tomorrow I have an eye appointment, two weeks from now an echocardiogram, and a mammogram is scheduled in June. I plan to make a hair appointment next. Life goes on...

Monday, March 30, 2015

We visited Michael's Aunt Wanda (his dad's younger sister) on Saturday. She is 89 years old and lives in Kailua with her daughter. Her daughter lives in the main house and she lives in her own apartment. It's on an upper level and she has to climb several stairs to get to it. After the last few years of watching my parents struggle with balance issues it was a bit disconcerting to me to see his aunt struggling with getting around. And like my parents, stubbornly not using a walker for balance. I kind of get how it might feel like you are giving up your independence or admitting defeat by using a walker but in some ways the opposite is true. I've seen a couple of seniors in the neighborhood booking down the sidewalk with their walkers. I hope if and when I get to that point I will be more open to assistance.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Sometimes the reality that I am living on an island out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is hard to believe. Fortunately the weather is usually pretty temperate and the trade winds are a real boon but I actually don't mind the heat (although Michael reminds me that it can be pretty hot and humid during the summer months). And for someone who enjoys being outside it is a good place to be.

I have all my supplies to start painting our bedroom walls. I plan to do some spackling tomorrow and wash the walls. I want to paint my office/guest room next. I just can't decide on the color but am leaning toward a pale grey. Michael is thinking about trying to do the floors himself and has been looking at laminate flooring from either Costco or Home Depot. As is always the case with projects though it is difficult to take that first step.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

I dreamt last night that I was driving my 1981 Renault LeCar. This is the first car I ever owned. I had to learn how to drive a stick and it had a manual choke. It's probably one of the worst cars mechanically that we have ever owned. It would stall at the most inopportune times and I got really good at opening the hood on the side of the road to get it going again. I nicknamed it LeMon. But man, I really loved that car.

Michael took me paddle boarding at Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday. It was a really great day. The water was clear and beautiful, the sun was shining, and I was with my favorite guy. Who could ask for more? I keep thinking though that if I went paddling more often I could get rid of my arm fat.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Michael and I enjoyed going to the Tahitian Dance Competition at the Waikiki Shell yesterday to watch Lily and Selena dance. They both danced well and looked beautiful in their outfits. I bought a to'ere from one of the booths - it's a drum constructed from a hollowed out log of milo wood. The guy that sold it to me showed me how to play it and taught me an easy beat. Of course, I know I have absolutely no musical talent and Michael will easily put me to shame but I guess we all have to learn to dance to the beat of our own drum.

Michael and I still have to take the written test to get our Hawaii driver licenses. I've been studying the driving manual and it's a whopping 162 pages long. They have sample tests online which I've found incredibly helpful.

It sounds like Butch, April and Donna have been working hard to clear out mom and dad's house. I am incredibly grateful but also feel guilty because I know it's time consuming and a lot of work and I am not there to help. Cleaning out our Ann Arbor house to sell it was pretty sobering. Given that dad was a bit of a hoarder, the Lennane house has even more stuff to clear out.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Killing time away from home is tougher than it seems but they finished the sewer work today so we don't have to make ourselves scarce again tomorrow. Monday we walked around Diamond Head and went to the beach, Tuesday we went to Target and stopped at the beach for a few hours on our way home, yesterday we went to the Honolulu Museum of Art, and today I had a doctor's appointment this morning and then we went to Costco and Kahala Mall. It will be nice to be able to just hang out at home tomorrow.

My doctor's appointment went well. All my labs were normal. She did think however I might have a heart murmur and wants me to make an appointment for an echocardiogram. I am not sure how big a deal a heart murmur is but I guess it should be checked out.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

It's day three of sewer work. The big surprise for me is that 1-2 dudes have been out front digging the trench with shovels. I always thought they used some kind of excavation machine for these kinds of jobs. Hopefully they will be replacing the pipe tomorrow and we will be done. I kind of feel like getting this project done is the stepping-stone to other projects.

Friday, March 13, 2015

I use the time when I am out walking in the morning to think about things that are going on in my life and I often plan to include those thoughts in this blog. What I find though (no big surprise) is that I am much more articulate in my mind than I am on paper. This morning I was thinking about both my own perceptions and my sibling's perceptions about our relationships with our parents. I think it's a bit of an ego thing and without getting into particulars, I wonder how far off the mark we all are. Would we be surprised at what they really thought of us? Of course this same thinking applies to all of our relationships whether it be family, friends or work related.

And I had a Friday the 13th moment this morning when I walked into a low hanging branch and banged myself in the head. I didn't see stars but it sure did smart for a few minutes. I better watch my step the rest of the day.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

I am slowly getting organized (again). I made a doctor's appointment today for next week and am hoping the doctor turns out to be a good fit for both Michael and me. We have tree trimming scheduled tomorrow, our new bed is being delivered next week and the dreaded sewer pipe replacement is scheduled the following week. I am calling tomorrow to make another appointment with the dentist - I am having issues with yet another tooth in which a small chip broke off near the gum line. It seems odd that I have now had two teeth within a three week period that this has happened to. Sigh...

Monday, March 2, 2015

There's no place like home, home is where the heart is, home is where one starts from, the ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place we can go as we are and not be questioned... When I left Michigan in January, I felt like I was leaving home. When I left Michigan this time it felt like I was going home. It was good to be with my family after the death of my father but I am glad to be back in Hawaii.

I am exhausted mentally and feel somewhat numb by the loss of my father. I am a bit concerned though by my lack of tears and can't help but wonder if the time will come that I will cry it out. In some ways it would be a relief.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Dad was buried today at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. It was a frigidly cold day and the burial was delayed a few hours as it took longer than anticipated to dig through the frozen ground. The family was not allowed to approach the burial site and I actually missed his coffin being lowered into the ground. But just being at the cemetery and seeing his final resting place brought some closure for me. But I couldn't help but think back to November of last year when we buried Mom and what a sharp contrast her burial was. It was done quietly by the family under much warmer and intimate circumstances at Camp Ground United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In the end each of them is where they wanted to be laid to rest.

Dad's service last night went very well. It was gratifying to see the number of people who attended and many who had worked with him at MMAP or Senior Alliance shared their experiences working with him. He was extremely well thought of and he contributed a lot to their efforts. None of his children spoke, however. I am not sure why but I suspect like me it was difficult to put a positive spin on what it was like to be part of his immediate family, particularly in regards to how he treated Mom. That said, I was very touched at the end of the service when taps were played and military personnel folded the flag draped on his casket and presented it to me.

Goodbye, Dad... I love you and will miss you.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Today is my father's funeral and hopefully some closure for the family. All eight siblings are here and I suspect this may be the last time we are all together. I think seeing him today (open casket) will be difficult for me.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

My dad died this evening. I feel like I am moving in slow motion as I prepare to return to Michigan. I was glad to have had an opportunity to say goodbye before I left and I knew at that time it would be the last time I saw him alive but it is still heartbreaking.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Anxious morning dealing with health insurance and medicare issues. Michael was stressing out about it at me at the same time I was talking to the social worker at Four Chaplains about my father's care plan. I haven't had an opportunity to talk to my brother yet but his email reports indicate Dad's health is deteriorating and that there really isn't much more that can be done for him except provide comfort measures. My siblings and I were all asked to sign a DNR consent form today. I don't know how much time he has left (days, weeks, months?) but I am pretty sure he will never return home, which brings up a whole new set of issues regarding what to do about the cats, unused services like the cable and internet, and eventually the house itself and all that involves. Big, big sigh. I think we could all use a dose of happy about right now...

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

After my mother died a coworker told me that you never get over the loss of a loved one, you just learn to live with the loss. There is not a time limit on grief. Six months later I find myself still feeling the loss of my mother and sometimes the emotion is so raw it feels like it happened yesterday. Some thing I see or a song I hear brings it all flooding back and the next thing I know my eyes tear up and my nose start running and I am wishing I had a kleenex instead of the back of my hand. My mother was not a saint and she had her faults but she was also perceptive, thoughtful, smart and funny - qualities I hope someone will use to describe me someday. I suspect my father will never understand his children's devotion to her but she was always there for us and I was glad that in the last few years of her life that we could be there for her. I always felt that she deserved more than life dealt her but maybe in the end her children's love was enough. I miss and love you, Mom.

Monday, February 16, 2015

A chip came off one of my molars at the gum line while flossing Friday night. It was pretty sensitive and made eating a bit uncomfortable. I fortunately found a dentist that squeezed me into his schedule today but not having dental insurance seemed to be an issue to the receptionist. I used my HSA to pay but it felt awkward. As an aside the anesthesia the dentist used made me tired enough to take a short nap this afternoon. In fact I am still feeling a little dopey but at least I didn't feel a thing during the procedure. I am pretty happy and relieved though to have found a dentist for Michael and I. We also found a doctor last week that is accepting new patients. I really need though to get our medical insurance situation resolved. We are just waiting for Michael to be signed up for Medicare Plan B.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Busy second half of the week. Thursday was Michael's birthday and unlike some birthday days this one actually seemed to be a pretty good one. We went to Zippy's in Kapahulu and picked up a mini teri beef plate with extra mac salad and then headed to Kuhio Beach. Michael got in about an hour of boogie boarding and commented afterwards how much fun it was. The board he was using is one someone had put on the curb for bulk pick-up so I suspect at some point Michael will replace it with one that is not as beat up. We went home and cleaned up and had a really nice dinner at Roy's in Hawaii Kai. We were lucky enough to get a table by the windows and had a great view of the sunset with Diamond Head in the background. On Friday I gave my charge card a good work-out. We finally bought bedroom furniture - bed, mattress & a dresser. We also bought a really nice teak dining room buffet, which should look good with the dining table we brought from Michigan. The delivery date is March 10 and I am actually looking forward to having a real bed. We had a late lunch at the Mai Tai Bar at Ala Moana. I liked the set-up there - it's an outdoor covered bar with comfy Hawaiian print chairs and couches along the perimeter. The servers wore short dresses with low cut tops so lots of cleavage was on display which the guys kept eyeing (including my guy but it was hard not to look). After lunch we window shopped for awhile at the mall and then stopped at Macy's on our way out to buy sheets and a bedspread for the new bed. Needless to say we spent an obscene amount of money. I joked that I traded in my Civic Si for furniture.

Today is Valentine's Day. Lot's of rain and wind overnight and this morning led to a power failure which seemed to make the day drag. We went grocery shopping at Safeway and Costco this afternoon. After dinner I made a chocolate cake for Michael - worst looking cake I ever made as the layers fell apart when I tried to remove them from the baking pans but at least it was yummy tasting.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Nostalgia story # 2 (or how I met my husband) - Michael assisted the track coach at Kalani HS in1968 when I was on the girl's track team. While I admittedly had a mini-crush on him, I didn't really consider him boyfriend material when I was on the team. He was older and seemed a bit out of reach. So I was perplexed to find out he was hanging out with and took to the prom another team member who was younger than me. I had my first real conversation with him at a Punahou track meet but never had the sense that he had any interest in me. And then he showed up at my high school graduation with gardenias and asked me if I wanted to go somewhere with him afterwards. I was with my parents and didn't know what their expectations were so disappointingly had to decline. I like to think that he was at the graduation ceremony specifically for me but I guess it is possible he was there for some other reason and running into me was serendipitous. Then he had a post track season party at his house. I attended with a date and I am not sure how it happened but Michael ended up giving me a ride home. We shared our first kiss and he even quite boldly copped a feel. We started hanging out after that. I suspect his first intro to my large family was a real shocker. And my dad wasn't all that nice to him - he would walk by him without making eye contact or saying a word. I'm glad he decided I was a keeper.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Being back in Hawaii nostalgia story # 1- It's pretty easy to start feeling nostalgic about my life here in the 60's-70's. Driving by certain places brings back some strong memories of those times. This morning as I was out for my trek around the neighborhood I flashed back to pushing Sean in his little blue stroller up and down the very same streets in 1979 with Puna in tow. Puna was Nanu's and/or Marc's german shepherd. She immediately latched onto Sean right after he was born and it was as though watching over him had become her new responsibility. She positioned herself right next to his cradle while he slept and would whine and carry on anytime we went out with Sean without her. And then we moved...

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Things that go bump in the night... I have a recurring dream in which I am at an event with someone I know and at some point I can't find them or they abandon me and I start walking to get home. And it gets dark and I am alone, lost and afraid. And the fear wakes me up and I try to think about something else as I fall back asleep. But the dream resumes often with me looking for a bus stop (which seems really odd unless it's the rational side of me looking for a solution). I never make it home in these dreams - I just keep waking up in fear. I had that dream early this morning.

Friday, February 6, 2015

The issue of weight is a sensitive and complicated subject and unless you are or have been several pounds overweight it's a subject I don't think you can truly understand (sorry, Michael). It's been a struggle for me for several years and it's my experience that people who typically put the needs of others before their own needs or have irregular job schedules have a much more difficult time developing the routines needed to fit exercise and healthier eating in their lives. And you have to be a bit selfish to find time for yourself. Michael is really disciplined about physical activity and it is disturbing for him to have his routines disrupted. The result though is that he is in really good shape. He remarked last week that he is down to his high school weight. I would have to lose half a person to have that bragging right. What this is all leading up to is that after developing an exercise and diet routine a few years ago and successfully losing thirty pounds I had that routine disrupted last year by several events and gained back 6-8 pounds. Spending days in hospitals and rehab centers often meant both forgoing exercise and fueling my body with vending machine food, fast food or one of many nearby Coney Islands. Now that I am no longer working and have moved, I have been trying to develop new routines because it's important for me to reach a healthy weight. Walking in the morning is a bit of a no brainer but I still need to figure out the food part. (That part was pretty easy when I was working because I could limit what food was available to me at work.) Anyway...

Thursday, February 5, 2015

And yet another breezy day especially by the ocean. Michael and I went to Kuhio Beach this morning and it was blowing really hard. We finally retreated to a beach in the Kahala area that was a bit more protected. And I got to wear my new bathing suit...

I have been in Hawaii close to three weeks now, which is the average time we used to stay when we were here on vacation. I've enjoyed (and quite frankly needed) the down time and must admit I really like having the ability to get up and walk most mornings without worrying about getting to work on time. I think house and yard projects will keep me busy for a while but long term I either need to take up a sport or hobby or look for a volunteer opportunity. I also need to start venturing out on my own with the car to run errands, etc. Being dependent on Michael for rides isn't fair to him and is limiting for me.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Another breezy day in Hawaii. I finished washing the louvered windows this morning, did some general cleaning and made a big pot of stew for dinner. I am thinking about painting the two back bedrooms so may wait to wash curtains since I will have to take them down when I paint.

Butch called and caught me up on family issues. He mentioned that Dad is being released back to Four Chaplains tomorrow. I remind myself that he is 86 years old and can't help but wonder how much more time he has given his medical issues. Living out what time he has remaining at Four Chaplains seems pretty grim but I can't see him ever returning home. I hope when my time comes I go quickly.

Oh, and my bathing suits arrived in the mail today. Maybe I'll get an opportunity to go to the beach soon and put one of them to good use. :-)

Monday, February 2, 2015

I do not think it's too relevant here but Happy Groundhog Day! Michael finally felt well enough today to ride his bike this morning but that said he is taking a nap right now. Leslie told us about a local company called haul2hi that ships Ikea merchandise to Oahu. They apparently have a small showroom so we may go check it out. You place your Ikea order with them and they purchase it and have it shipped to Hawaii for pick up. I went to Ala Moana yesterday with Leslie and found a couple of bathing suit tops at Macy's I like that fit which is a good thing as it's something I have been looking for a long time. I have started cleaning the louvered windows at the house - decided to do a room a day. I plan to tackle washing the curtains next. Baby steps... I am still working on getting medical insurance and need to get a Hawaii drivers license.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The news that my Dad's health has taken a hit doesn't surprise me but is still hard to hear. And while I am trying to remain positive, the reality is that he will more than likely never return home. I am reconciled that I will never see him again and am glad that I had an opportunity to say goodbye before I left. Despite this though I think that when his time comes it will be a difficult loss for me. I still think about Mom a great deal - I am always seeing things that remind me of her that I wish I could share with her. This morning I walked by a house with elephant ear plants and it reminded me of her planting area at Fort Ruger. And I sure miss sitting out on her front porch with her.

Monday, January 26, 2015

It's a beautiful sunny day and I spent a few hours sitting in our backyard reading and watching the lizards doing whatever it is that lizards do. I've been walking most mornings (before it gets hot) and was surprised that I have already logged 28 miles on my Nike app since arriving here. The other early morning walkers in the valley are either "seniors" like me or people out walking their dogs. People are pretty friendly and nod or say hello as we pass by each other. This morning an older guy a few blocks from here gave me a couple of lemons from his tree, which I thought was pretty nice. I am hoping to be able to reciprocate this summer with mangos from our tree. We also have some banana plants but alas no bananas. Michael and I are talking about maybe planting a lime tree. It would be great to have a supply of limes for gin and tonics and margaritas. Hah...

An envelope of my mail arrived from Butch today and much to my surprise all were from companies that I had put change of address requests to either in person or on-line. So it looks like I have some do-overs in my future. What the hell..

Sunday, January 25, 2015

I have been in Hawaii a week now and have spent my time trying to get boxes unpacked and organized. I have easily spent $100 on plastic bins in hopes of protecting photo albums and other paperwork from the humidity. Storage space is tight so I am trying to be smart about where I put things. It is nice to see my pottery collection on display again. Michael did a good job with furniture placement and kitchen organization before I got here.He is still recuperating from the flu - we went to a home improvement show at the Blaisdell Center this afternoon and he looked really exhausted by the effort. I hope he is up and back to normal soon.

I still have to figure out health insurance for both Michael and I and we need to get our Hawaii driver's licenses as well, which I understand requires us taking a written exam. We also apparently need to make changes to our homeowners policy and open a savings account so lots of pending business to take care. And I won't even get started on pending home projects.

It's been pretty cool the past few nights - in fact jacket weather. It's also been raining on and off the past few days.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

I arrived in Honolulu Saturday night to Michael's welcoming arms. Finally! It feels good to be together again but I think Michael has found it stressful adjusting to another person in the house. Maybe I am being overly sensitive but I don't think I have seen him really relax since my arrival. He seems a little on edge all the time and now he is sick with the flu. I miss his sense of humor and our old bantering with each other. I don't like being an annoyance! That said, I am enjoying the beautiful weather after how cold it was in Michigan and Chicago before I left. Just feeling lucky to be here.