2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

It's the last day of 2016. Other than all the political drama related to the presidential election, it was a pretty good year for me. And I am looking forward to an even better 2017.

Sean and Rose enjoyed a romantic dinner in Honolulu tonight and have a reservation at a hotel in Waikiki. There are fireworks displays going on so a pretty great way to bring in the New Year. I am glad they are doing something special. I started prep for tomorrow's get-together. The ribs are marinating in Nanu's beachcomber sauce and the vegetables are chopped for the noodles. I also sliced up a pineapple. Rose made lemon curd sandwich cookies so we are in pretty good shape. Unfortunately I had to decline Leslie's invitation to New Year's day brunch at the Outrigger Canoe Club because I need time in the morning to get ready for people coming over. Sigh...

Sean and Rose leave on Thursday. It will be sad when they leave but I feel fortunate for the time I have spent with them so far. Happy New Year everyone!

Friday, December 30, 2016

I woke up to pouring rain this morning and stayed in bed an extra half hour instead of getting up, putting my shoes on, and walking. Kali seemed happy with my choice as it gave her more time to look for an opening between my hands and arms which were protecting my face from her licks. She ended up biting the top of my head instead. Good thing she's small or I'd be a goner. It's a few hours later and she's nestled in the chair with me as we watch the rain continue to fall. I am convinced that it's raining today because I gave all the plants in the yard a good watering yesterday. (Sean and Rose went off on their own yesterday so Michael and I spent the day catching up on housework and yardwork.)

I am not sure what is planned for today. There was talk last night of going to Ala Moana and walking around. I have gleaned from Sean and Rose that they have some interest in going to the North Shore before they return to Chicago. Maybe on Monday? They have plans already for New Year's Eve. Michael invited family (the Kailua side) over on New Year's Day. We are going to try to prepare some of Nanu's recipes. I am planning to make her beachcomber ribs and Wanda mentioned making crispy gau gee. With some rice and a vegetable, that's a good start to a meal. And I should mention that with all the eating of late, stepping on the scale is terrifying. Especially with a doctor's appointment coming up.

Oh, and I should mention that I have a small blister on one of my toes that I drained yesterday that kind of hurts a little.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

The smell of long grass after a rain reminds me of the small of cilantro. Which I like, by the way.

We went to Yokohama Bay today and it turned out to be a really nice beach day. The water was super clear. It drops off quickly so there isn't the need to wade out to get into deeper water. And I had a "mom" moment - on the way back to Honolulu we stopped at an L&L Drive-In in Waianae and Rose pointed out that my tank top was not only inside out but on backwards. I immediately thought of Mom and had to laugh at myself.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Another busy day... Michael, Sean, Rose, and I went to Diamond Head Crater this morning to walk the trail to the summit. The pain that I have been experiencing in my left thigh intensified and about halfway up the trail, I realized that continuing any further was crazy. My pride was wounded and I was disappointed but it is clear I really need to address this issue when I visit the doctor in a few weeks. Sigh... We went to Zippy's for lunch takeout (we were headed to Queen's beach) and I buried my sorrows in a bowl of macaroni salad.

Sean and Rose are going out to dinner tonight with friends from Chicago that are visiting family in Hawaii Kai. Small world, indeed.

And I here's a description of my walk this morning. I left the house at 6:15 am. It felt like night. The moon hung in the sky like a gray orb with a small sliver of light at the bottom. Sunrise was not for another 45 minutes but 20 minutes into my walk, there was a predawn glow that lit up Niu Valley. I spotted the Millers (also early morning walkers) on Pia Street coming in my direction with their little red light flashers and we walked together and chatted about holiday plans and family. I continued on after they finished their walk and spotted Michael out running. By this time I had walked about three miles and a pain that I have been experiencing for the past six weeks in my left upper thigh had intensified. Annoying, but I kept going. I ran into Michael again and he joined me on the final portion of my walk. I like walking with him because his stride is longer than mine and it forces me to pick up my pace. Another 4.4 miles was added on the Nike app I use to track my mileage. Only 18 miles are needed for me to hit 4,000 miles. I am hoping to reach this milestone by year-end but will need to increase my daily mileage to make this happen. Which could be iffy with my gimpy leg. Another big sigh...

Monday, December 26, 2016

We enjoyed a nice Christmas yesterday. We opened gifts in the morning followed by a breakfast of french toast and portuguese sausage. We then spent a few hours at the Makai Research Pier by Makapu'u Beach swimming and relaxing. I made spaghetti for dinner. Sean, Rose, and I went to see the movie Rogue I following dinner. They had seen it before but fortunately for me didn't mind seeing it again. I loved the movie but have to admit I was surprised by the ending (spoiler alert) as all the main characters were killed in a conflict with the Empire. WTF!

Today Michael drove us up Tantalus/Round Top Drive. We also went to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl Crater) to visit Michael's father's grave. It was windier and rainier than I usually like but okay weather for what we did. Sean and Rose treated Michael and me for a steak dinner at Hy's in Waikiki. It was the first time Michael and I ate there and it was pretty solid. The food and service were both really good.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Christmas Eve... I feel very fortunate to have Sean and Rose here for Christmas but I am finding I do miss the annual family Christmas Eve gatherings. It always seemed like Dad got a lot of pleasure out of the secret Santa gift exchange. It was also one of the few times during the year that most of the family gathered in one place. We are spending a quiet evening at home eating leftovers, doing laundry, and wrapping gifts. We went to the farmer's market this morning at Kapiolani Community College. That area always takes me back to the years the Pedit family lived at Fort Ruger. I can get pretty nostalgic about the hours spent with other military kids at the Youth Center, Palm Circle, etc. And as it turns out, KCC is building their culinary school on the very spot our military housing once stood. I have a lot of good memories of my time living on the side of Diamond Head.

"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the night..."

Monday, December 19, 2016

I am now back to my allergy theory as I have no cold symptoms but there is something in the house that I am reacting to. It would be disappointing if it turned out it is the new couch or rug. I am thinking I also changed the kitty litter this weekend so maybe the dust from that is an irritant.

We spent a few hours at Queen's beach today and as always I enjoy people watching. You typically see Japanese bridal couples being photographed and there are always lots of surf lessons going on.

We are looking forward to Sean and Rose's arrival on Wednesday. Michael is busy cleaning out the car - the back seats are flat normally to accommodate all the beach gear like chairs, fins, mask & snorkel, water shoes, boogie boards, etc. Rose contacted me today about going for mani-pedis so I made an appointment for Thursday morning at a shop in Kaimuki.

Fun, fun, fun...

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Coolish day today. I hesitate to say we have had a couple of chilly nights because I recognize family and friends on the mainland have had some brutally cold temps lately. Kali seems to like a fuzzy blanket Michael put on the bed and has claimed it as her new sleeping spot. We still need to go grocery shopping but otherwise we are ready for Sean and Rose's arrival on Wednesday. It motivated Michael to reorganize his room and he seems happy with the results. One should note however that he moved a lot of stuff out of the house and into one of his outside spaces.

Michael and I went to both of the Honolulu Museum of Art locations yesterday (Beretania Street and the Spalding House). Michael wanted to do some Christmas shopping in the museum gift shops. Not bad for a procrastinator as there is still an entire week between now and Christmas.

I am feeling tired today. What I thought was an allergic reaction to dust yesterday from cleaning the floor in Michael's room may actually be the beginning of a cold as I have been sneezing all day. After a burst of activity this morning, I am ready for a nap. I am keeping my fingers crossed that whatever is going on passes quickly.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

I experienced unusual dreams early this morning and I woke up wishing I knew what happened next. I was with my siblings and parents and somehow Nanu entered the dream. She was planning a trip to China but then she morphed into Mom and I found myself thinking she shouldn't travel alone and that I should make arrangements to be with her. I try not to read too much symbolism into dreams but I did find myself wondering if being with her when she died is somehow related. I had another dream about Mom a few weeks ago and she was living in a small cottage in a remote mountainous area that had vegetable and flower gardens. A comforting thought.

Our living room is finally looking like "us" after the addition of a new love seat, throw pillows, and area rug. And moving the futon couch that was in our living room to the back lanai has made that area pretty cozy and comfortable. A nice place for reading or taking a nap.

The president and his family arrive tomorrow which makes driving (especially in the Kailua area where they are staying) a bit more challenging because security concerns results in a lot of road closures. That said, like all the other gawkers, I'd love to catch a glimpse of him with his family.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Michael and I spent close to four hours at Queen's Beach today. We found a free street parking spot just yards from the tree we set up our chairs under. It is a calm beautiful day.

I was just reading the stats on the Honolulu Marathon, which was yesterday. According to the newspaper, of the 33,100 registrants for the marathon 19,000 of them were visitors. I didn't realize that many people traveled here from the mainland and other countries to participate (most from Japan).

The countdown to Sean and Rose arriving has begun - only 9 more days...

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Thursday, I got my hair cut and colored. My usual guy moved to the Big Island so I tried another person at the same salon and ended up liking her, which was quite a relief. Yesterday I had a busy morning - PT at 8:00am followed by a dental cleaning at 9:30am. Michael and I then headed to the Kaneohe Sears to purchase water filters for our refrigerator. I wish Sears had a closer location. The one at Ala Moana closed years ago. For most of my adult life, Sears was my go-to place for appliances and tools. It will be a shame when the day comes that Sears is no more. We ended up having lunch at Buzz's. It was nice to see Leslie. She mentioned she has been busy filling several orders for ornaments and is working extra shifts over the holidays. I am not sure where she gets all her energy. There is busy, and then there is Leslie... Oh, and I should mention that my drink at Buzz's was wickedly strong.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

This day will live in infamy and I am not talking about Pearl Harbor. Kali just dragged her butt across the new couch. I guess that's what called breaking it in.

I made six pairs of Christmas earrings yesterday morning and would have made more but realized belatedly I had only purchased six of a large green square crystal that is part of the design. My wire wrapping skills are pretty pathetic but not noticeable unless you look closely. I now just need to mail them off to the "lucky" recipients. :)

Bern contacted me using face time yesterday morning as i was brushing my teeth and about to take a shower. I had the phone with me in the bathroom in case the company delivering our couch called. I guess it's a good thing only my face was visible on the phone. Ooh, la la. There was a loud hum on the call that made it impossible to talk so I ended up calling him back. Despite the timing, I enjoyed talking to him.

Another beautiful day...

Monday, December 5, 2016

There is an elderly woman in our neighborhood that I often see crouched (the Asian squat) in her yard in the early morning trimming her grass with clippers or pulling weeds. And I am envious of how comfortable she looks in that position as I would find it very uncomfortable and impossible to maintain. After walking, my joints are pretty stiff to the point that it hurts a little to even bend down and pick up the newspaper. Fortunately my body recovers but I don't think that when I was young I realized all the aches and pains that come with aging once arthritis hits. I also remember thinking when I was young that I would always maintain a healthy weight and that didn't turn out to be the case either.

Yesterday Michael and I went to Ben Franklin (a craft store, which was packed by the way) and Bedazzle (the bead store that held the earring making class at the library last week). I thought I might try to make earrings and ended up spending way more than I anticipated on supplies but I should be able to make ten pairs of earrings with what I purchased. So another project is in the works. I finished my Christmas cards last night and am taking a break from my photo book projects so should have time.

It rained most of the weekend and everything in the house feels a little damp. It looks like a beautiful sunny day today. I was thinking going to the beach might be nice but parking at our usual spot might be problematic (or not) because of planned activities for Pearl Harbor's 75th Anniversary. Obama and a lot of dignitaries will be in Honolulu this week for the events.

Sean and Rose will be here in a few weeks (yay!) and the new sofa arrives tomorrow.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

I am finally cleaning and "polishing" the floors in our living/dining room and kitchen area. If anyone remembers my slippery wood floors in Michigan - guess what, painted concrete also gets pretty slippery when you polish it. Our new couch arrives on Tuesday and the plan is to move our old couch onto the back lanai this weekend so my next cleaning project is (drum roll please) the back lanai.

I haven't put the ornaments on yet but did take our mini tree out of the box and set it up. So it is beginning to look a little like Christmas in the house.

I went to a gift card making class on Tuesday and a jewelry making class yesterday at the library. Most of the first class involved using rubber stamps or an embosser to make different designs. I made a pair of holiday earrings in the jewelry class that turned out pretty nice. But I definitely need to work on my wire wrapping skills. I used to have supplies to make earrings but a search last night in my craft box confirmed what I feared - when I moved I contributed my beads, hooks, etc to the Scrapbook in Ann Arbor. But it's not like I was planning to make everyone earrings for Christmas. Maybe next year. :)

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Michael and I went to Target for our monthly shopping spree for cat food, cleaning supplies, and other items that caught our fancy. I am the proud owner of of a small juicer which I used last night on some lemons a neighbor gave me. I froze the juice in ice trays and am hoping I remember to use the cubes for something. Fortunately, I can always make lemonade.

Kathy called a little while ago and it was nice talking to her. It sounds like there is some instability with her job going forward but it also sounds like she may have an opportunity to work elsewhere if need be. One thing I do have to say about Kathy is that she always seems to land on her feet. She's a smart capable person.

I have PT this morning followed by my shift at the library. I am also going to a class on gift card making at 5:00pm so I have a busy day ahead of me.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Michael and I enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving in Kailua with Michael's Aunt Wanda, his cousin Carol, and their friend Michael. We ended up with lots of a green bean dish Michael had made and it's been the mainstay of dinners the past few nights. Which is not a bad thing as it's a delicious medley of green beans, carrots, multicolored peppers, slivered almonds and bacon. Last night Michael combined the vegetables with asian noodles and it was really tasty.

I finally bought a vacuum cleaner and am hoping it will help control some of the cat hair that has invaded our house. Despite brushing Kali, there is enough cat hair on the furniture that black clothing wearers need to be on guard. Also, we just purchased a new couch (to be delivered on December 6) and have plans to also buy an area rug so a vacuum will really help with that.

Christmas prep so far is me retrieving the plastic bin containing our meager decorations from the shelf it was on and perusing its contents. I discovered I had purchased Christmas cards at an after Christmas sale last year so I made address labels and put those on the envelopes last night. I also made a half hearted start on a Christmas letter but so far it sounds dorky and I am not sure how much more effort I want to put into finalizing it.

We are still experiencing windy weather. I did some yard clean-up yesterday and filled two huge trash bags. And the leaves and flowers keep falling. And we keep raking...

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thanksgiving, as the name implies, is a day to give thanks and I have much to be thankful for - family, friends, a roof over my head, the list goes on... But I am especially thankful for my dear husband who makes me laugh nearly every day. Happy Thanksgiving all!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

So far this has been a windy rainy week. I actually abandoned my walk this morning after only one mile because of the wind rain combination. My umbrella did little to keep me from getting soaked. The yard needs a serious leaf pick-up but the wind makes raking an iffy activity. (That's my excuse and I am going to stick to it.)

We have had Kali for a year now. She's turned out to be a pretty good cat. I don't have a lot of hope that she will ever relax when people visit as she still heads for her hiding place under our bed when she hears someone other than Michael or me in the house or back patio. But she is a very sweet and affectionate cat and I love having her as part of our family.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

I can't believe Thanksgiving is only a few days away. I am not cooking this year. Michael and I are invited to Thanksgiving at his cousin Carol's house in Kailua. I believe it's going to be a pretty small group - Carol, Aunt Wanda, their friend Michael, my husband Michael, and me. Michael is making green beans and I am just going to relax and eat - a first for me. There is a certain irony in that I got a free 12.5 pound turkey today at Foodland. They have a customer loyalty program. I think for every $100 you spend, you "earn" a coupon for whatever their "free" item is weekly. At Halloween it was candy and I suspect at Christmas it will be a ham (or a reduced price on a ham). I remember that Value Center, which is where Mom shopped, had a similar program.

I am clueless about Christmas gifts this year. I am trying to keep things simple. I paid for airfare to Hawaii for Sean and Rose but would still like to have something small for them under the tree. Michael is being his usual cryptic self. And I am not sure what to get Selena and Lily. I would love to get Lily a Hatchimal but I am guessing there is little hope that I am going to walk into Target or Walmart and find one on the shelf.

HMSA has only authorized two more PT sessions although the clinic I am going to suggested they may authorize more. I have really enjoyed going and it has motivated me to do stretching, especially using the foam roller. So even if I am no longer covered by insurance, there has been a benefit.

Interestingly, the foot pain I've been experiencing stopped about six weeks after I reduced my mileage. But it's been replaced by a pain that starts in my left thigh, and travels up to my buttocks, and lower back. This new pain started a week or so ago and occurs at about the half mile mark of my walks. I am hoping it is not my sciatic nerve. I find I am walking slower and have shortened my distance as a result. I still haven't tried using insoles - mostly because I don't know where the best place is to purchase them. That said, there is a store in Aina Haina that sells both insoles and therapeutic shoes. I really need to just do it, I guess.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Michael's urology appointment this morning went well - no issues, all is good. Whew...

It's been a busy week for me. I had PT Monday morning and afterwards Michael and I went to the beach for a few hours. We went to City Mill Tuesday morning to buy sand and potting soil. I volunteered at the library Tuesday afternoon. Yesterday, after PT, I had lunch with Arlene (friend from Seattle) and then Michael and I went to Kailua to have dinner at the Big City Diner with Lochlan, Aunt Wanda, and family. This morning, we went to Queen's Hospital for Michael's urology appointment and then headed to the beach. Who knew retirement could be so exhausting.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Feeling peevish. I don't like it when people tell me how I feel about something.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Very lazy day. I walked about 3.5 miles this morning and am doing laundry right now but have done no house cleaning or yard work today. So much for good intentions. I did do my PT "homework" - mostly exercises using the foam roller (with Kali sitting on my chest with her butt in my face). I am finding I really like going to Physical Therapy. Yesterday, Rayna started off the session using ultrasound to loosen up my back muscles and tissue followed by cupping therapy. She applied two cups and said she was going to go easy on me because it was my first time. This was followed by some deep tissue massage. The skin where she did the cupping yesterday feels a little tender and irritated today but if any of these methods works, it is well worth the residual discomfort. I called Donna today and interrupted her housecleaning to ask her why she is job searching. I was worried that she had lost her job but it turns out she is looking for a second job to supplement her income. So that was a relief. I forgot to ask her, however, if she got the results from her breast cancer follow-up visit. Keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn't get any bad news.

Butch sent me some old images he had from the 1970's in Hawaii and from 1980 in Oregon. It was fun looking at photos of Michael with his full head of hair. And he is so damn cute...

Thursday, November 10, 2016

I knew when I moved to Hawaii that I would miss my family, especially those that lived nearby. And living 4 miles from Butch and his family meant that I spent a lot of time with them hanging out, watching TV, eating out, or running errands together. In the few years before I moved, as Mom and Dad's health declined, Butch and I spent even more time together making frequent trips to Redford to check on them, run errands, etc. And I find I really miss all that time Butch and I spent together in the car talking. What got me thinking about all this is I accidentally called Donna yesterday while digging in my purse for something. I picked up my phone later and saw the call and thought she had called me and was disappointed that I had missed her call. This leads me to ask myself why I don't call my family more. In typical Sugar fashion, it's because I don't want to bother them because I have the sense they are busy working and have so little personal time the call would be an imposition. And yet I yearn to hear their voices, sometimes to the point I find myself tearing up. When I speak to Sean and other family members, it feeds my soul and eases some of the loss I feel in my heart.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

When I voted yesterday morning for Clinton I was full of hope and optimism. By 8pm last night, it was apparent that a Clinton presidency just wasn't in America's future. I went to bed and when I woke up this morning, I had to face the reality that it wasn't just some weird nightmare. It really happened. That man, whose name I can't get myself to mention right now, is going to be our next president.

I also went to physical therapy yesterday. The therapist gave my upper/middle back quite the work-out. I was pretty sore when I woke up this morning. She also taped my shoulders/back. It's quite the fashion statement - especially when wearing a bathing suit. The therapist told me that my back muscles and soft tissue are really tight and she'd like to loosen them up because she believes that is one of the causes of my cervical spine issues. She also acknowledged though that because it's a chronic condition that it's not going to be easy. I am finding this process really interesting and despite the pain, I do feel more relaxed afterwards. So we shall see...

Monday, November 7, 2016

Lots of errands today. I had an appointment this morning with the TIAA representative and ended the monthly distributions I started about six months ago. Now that I am receiving social security, I feel comfortable stopping this extra income but I am strongly considering annuitizing this same investment after the New Year unless I find myself employed. Michael and I also went to two furniture stores to look at couches. Michael found a love seat size couch he liked at Inspiration, the same furniture store we purchased our bedroom furniture and dining room credenza from. We take delivery on December 6. We went to two surf shops as well, McDonalds and Foodland, so busy, busy, busy...

Sean sent me a note yesterday to let me know he and Rose will be arriving December 21 for the Christmas holidays. All is good in the world despite tomorrow being the general election. So I am planning to stand in line tomorrow morning to cast my vote. Hopefully it will not be raining.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Beach day today and I actually went in the water at Queen's. I even did a little snorkeling and was surprised at how many different fish varieties I saw - convict tangs, butterfly fish, and wrasses to name a few. Unfortunately I also spotted a few plastic bags floating underwater.

Holly approached me on Tuesday while I was volunteering to again ask if I was interested in working at the library full-time. I need to ask her about medical coverage to determine what the impact would be for me and I am also interested in their time off and vacation policies. But I find myself thinking it might not be a bad idea. The additional income would give Michael and I some financial wiggle room. Maybe commit for a year to see how I feel?

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Michael had a doctor's appointment this morning and from what he is telling me the doctor predicts a dire future for him. Exaggeration or fact? Only he knows but he is certainly the picture of good health - he's fit, his weight is normal, etc. I am sympathetic, however, as she has referred him to a urologist to get his prostate checked out due to one of his lab results. So he has one of "those" exams in his near future. Excuse me doc, but aren't you supposed to buy me dinner first?

I went to my first PT session yesterday and after taking measurements on my neck motion, doing some strength and flexibility tests, and some manual probing of my shoulder and upper chest area, she said that I need to work on my strength and flexibility. My right arm is weaker than my left despite it being my prominent arm and apparently my right rib cage is higher than my left, which she seemed to believe is a result of poor posture when using the computer, etc. Also my shoulder area is very tense, thus her repeated requests to me to relax my shoulders. She gave me some homework that includes some diaphragm breathing and stretching. I am always game when it comes to PT but am hoping that manual therapy is part of the treatment. When I had PT several years ago, I really believed the pressure on targeted areas on my shoulder and neck helped alleviate some of the pain and stiffness I was experiencing. We shall see...

Just consider this posting, like many others I've posted recently, the equivalent of sitting in a room with a bunch of seniors talking about their health issues.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

I am all set with candy in the event we have trick-or-treaters tomorrow night. And yes I did eat two Almond Joys already. And I am planning to freeze any left over candy - not that frozen candy is much of a deterrent to consumption. Where there is the will, one finds a way. And frozen Snicker bars are actually kind of good.

Yesterday, the couple I often walk with in the morning, gave me three big ti plant cuttings. I haven't split the stalks yet but I am optimistic about getting ten or more plants from the cuttings. Michael mentioned wanting to put in some plants behind the house so these will be a good start once they are rooted and established. I've said it before but I feel really lucky to have such great neighbors.

I took two 200mg Advil caplets yesterday morning and by noon I was dragging. I was so drowsy I ended up trying to nap. I did not take another two in the evening as recommended. I have delayed self medicating this morning as my uncertainty about this treatment grows. I find myself questioning if the side effects are worth the benefits. Big, big sigh...

Saturday, October 29, 2016

In response to my inquiry about OTC medications for inflammation, my doctor recommended taking 400mg of Advil twice a day. And I find myself a reluctant patient. I guess I need to have more faith in the medical profession but I've always been skeptical of authority and have a hard time accepting most things on blind faith alone, which did not bode well for me when I attended Catholic schools growing up. Give me some evidence, please.

I went with Ellen to visit her friend Marie last night. Marie's home is located in the cul-de-sac next to the drainage canal behind the Niu Valley Shopping Center. Very nice home, by the way, with beautiful tiger wood flooring. I believe, however, I was on the receiving end of a lengthy sales pitch for the Honolulu Junior League. I've always associated this organization with "society" ladies but she assured me that it attracts a wide cross-section of women. I am not sure what if any my next steps will be. Ellen seems to feel Marie is great friend material but I really didn't get the sense that Marie is looking for another friend.

This morning Michael walked a few miles with me and we ended up touring the house Scott and Ulu are building on Panio St. Ulu was at the house to feed several feral cats that she's been caring for. It's always fun to see the insides of other people's homes so I was glad Ulu was kind enough to show us around her new place.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

I've started to look at what might be the best over the counter anti-inflammatory medication to take and it looks like it is between Advil, Motrin, and Aleve. My concern though is the neurologist mentioned a daily dosage of 800-1000 mg. which is four a day and from what I am reading increases the risk of liver damage. I am thinking I may contact my regular doctor to get her opinion.

I met Ellen for lunch yesterday (Zippy's Hawaii Kai). She has been in town working for about a week so far and plans to stay through November 6 (if I am remembering correctly). I suspect we will get together again next week. She seems to be keen on me meeting one of her friends that lives in Niu Valley. Which I do not object to by the way.

Michael went for a blood draw this morning in preparation for his doctor's appointment next week. As I type this, it occurs to me that his recent efforts to lose weight may be related. Mmm... We went to Queen's afterwards and it was rainy, cloudy, and a bit cool until the sun made an appearance as we were leaving. Impeccable timing.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

My neurologist appointment was this afternoon. I wasn't impressed with the office - the exam room was actually kind of cluttered and I found myself wondering how clean the nerve conduction testing equipment was. I guess I was expecting a more professional environment. But that said, the tests the neurologist performed confirmed that the issues I've been experiencing are related to cervical spine compression of C5-C6. It's not carpal tunnel, for example. No great surprise. The neurologist asked me if I would consider surgery as he believed that as I age, more degeneration will occur. I opted for physical therapy for now. The first available appointment is in a few weeks. Fortunately there is a PT clinic in Aina Haina so I won't have far to travel. And he told me to start taking Motrin to reduce inflammation.

In other health news, I have been testing my blood sugar and it has been running about 20 points higher since I reduced my Metformin dosage. I find this really disappointing. Sigh...

Sunday, October 23, 2016

We attended Michael's 50th Kalani High School Reunion last night at the Waialae Country Club in Kahala. Not too many people recognized Michael I think in part because his thick wavy hair was missing (sorry Michael). But his old classmates seemed happy to see him and he did point out a few girls he used to have crushes on but never asked out. We sat with one of his old track buddies who now lives in Sacramento. He, by the way, asked if I was a teacher because to him I looked like a teacher. I peeked in the mirror this morning and am not sure what he was getting at. I am hoping that when my reunion happens in a few years though that people I remember will also be there.

I decided to try a tip I read on the Internet on how to remove glass rings on wooden surfaces on my dining room table. I rubbed a mixture of baking soda and vinegar on one of the stains and it did remove the ring except it also removed years of built up wax on the table. I ended up having to do the entire table for consistency. I put orange oil on it but it looks like I may need to reapply it a few times to get some of the gloss back.

It's been a brisk weekend - the trades are strong enough to give me an excuse not to rake leaves. I actually ended up closing windows last night because the wind was blowing the curtains all over the place.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Today was when of those mixed weather days - really sunny with lots of brief passing showers. And as Michael often did when we lived in Michigan, he made his annual weather prediction for this winter. He says it will be rainy. I also noticed there was a newspaper article with a headline saying that the "rainy season is forecast to be wetter than last year's." It made me wonder if Michael might have been their source but they credited the National Weather Service. Oh well, it did make me wonder.

Michael also said something about my brother today that I thought was rather nice. He commented at dinner that Butch is one of just a few haoles that deserves to live in Hawaii. My reporting of his comment is a little out of context but I'd say this counts as a "local" stamp of approval.

We are attending Michael's 50th high school reunion tomorrow night. I am not sure what goes on at reunions so this will be good prep for mine in two years.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

There was a special on TV last night about Hawaii's homeless crisis. I found it interesting and it did give me a few insights on the problems facing the case workers and others working on this issue. But I also had one of those moments where I had to laugh at myself. A young woman was describing how much she liked liquor and ice and I had a brief moment of thinking how odd that she mentioned liking ice with her alcohol. And then it hit me that she was referring to her meth addiction. Uh...

Today I had lunch with Leslie and Joann at Nieman Marcus (at Ala Moana). Afterwards we went to a place by Ala Moana called Chun Wah Kam so Joann could buy manapua. They also sold noodles, char sui, and all kinds of other Chinese dishes. I was pretty impressed by how good the different entrees and sides looked. Leslie mentioned that the portions on their plate lunches are really big so it sounds like a good place to go for lunch if in the area.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Leslie invited Michael and me to Sunday brunch at the Outrigger Canoe Club yesterday. The buffet had lots of yummy choices and I ate far too much. And they had bacon, lots of bacon!!

Michael's sister Joann is still in Hawaii and I am hoping Michael gets a chance to spend some time with her this week before she leaves next Monday. She was at brunch yesterday and I have to say it's hard to believe she is 81 year old. I know comparisons are not fair but when I think about my parents at 81 and then look at how mobile she is - well, there is a huge difference.

And because I am immature, in response to a Facebook posting I saw this morning, I have been paying medical insurance premiums monthly since 1974. Just saying...

Saturday, October 15, 2016

It is not uncommon in Hawaii for people to call an unrelated older person auntie. I am occasionally referred to as "auntie" at the library when I am volunteering. But while out on my walk this morning, I was caught off guard to have a guy who looked to be in his late twenties refer to me as auntie when he said good morning. He was part of a work crew. Mmm...

Another part of living in Hawaii is my attitude about bugs. While I am not too pleased to see a cockroach in the house, I accept it as part of living here. We take a lot of measures to seal food in glass or plastic containers or store it in the refrigerator, there are roach traps in "strategic" locations in the kitchen and bathroom, and we own more cans of bug spray than I care to admit to but I know that they live among us in the house. I was cleaning a shelf this morning though and discovered several roaches had made their home in a leather camera case that is on an old vintage camera. I took the case outside to let the bugs out and as they escaped a large lizard grabbed one in his mouth. Kind of cool to see. So even though I am sometimes annoyed by all the gecko droppings in the house, all I can say is keep up the good work.

Friday, October 14, 2016

I sometimes regret commenting about family members because of worries about offending someone I care about. And sometimes I even delete posts. I haven't decided yet about yesterday's blog post...

I made an appointment with a neurologist for the 25th and am both dreading and looking forward to it. The dread is because I have a difficult time articulating what is going on with my right hand and arm. I am not in pain like I was seven years ago but something is "off" - my hand is number than it's been and the numbness is extending into my wrist area. But I hate worrying all the time about a recurrence of the nerve being pinched and would like to take preemptive steps if I am moving in that direction again. It's all just way too deja vu for my psyche to handle.

We went to Michael's "calming" place this morning (also called Target). Only it wasn't all that calming as there were several young children shopping with mostly their moms in the store today and there was a lot of crying and whining going on (the kids more so than their parents). Unlike Michael, I can tune most of it out but I do understand why Michael finds it annoying. He claims that if we ever have a grandchild, this little person will never act that way in a store. I hope he's right. (smile)

Thursday, October 13, 2016

I am not sure what to think about a few postings my nephew made earlier on Facebook today saying that he was looking to end his life because he "can't handle the punches anymore." This is after a series of financial setbacks due to issues with his lawn service equipment and his truck. It sounds like his comments were made during the stress of the moment and his father stepped in to help him. But in my view this is not one of those "all's well that ends well" moments. Because if he was looking to end his life, he needs professional assistance to help him with coping mechanisms to handle his stress. But as much as I don't want to go down this road and sound insensitive, it did occur to me that it could also be a manipulative move. Neither scenario is good but I do realize he is young and is still finding his way. And I am apparently old and cynical.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Happy birthday wishes to Marilyn...

Michael's sister Joann arrived on Monday for a visit and is staying with Carl in Hawaii Kai. Carl was her daughter Colleen's husband and moved back to Hawaii last year. Joann is talking about moving back here as well but I don't know what her timetable is. Chelsea and Sione are house hunting and I have heard that Joann is interested in them finding a home that has a separate living space for her. Unfortunately, I believe Leslie has the same desire. Sigh...

My doctor's appointment today wasn't as informative as I had hoped. My bone density test results were not available yet. The X-ray of my cervical spine showed signs of arthritis at C4-C5, C5-C6, and C6-C7 plus bony right neural foramina stenosis at C5-C6. The right foot X-ray noted a small plantar calcanea spur but no fracture. The doctor referred me to a neurologist for my neck issue and suggested I invest in shoe inserts for my foot issue. So certainly no surprises.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

My birthday was two weeks ago. In my unscientific study about the demise of the birthday card, I received 7 cards this year. They were from Michael, Sean & Rose, Celina, Kathy, Bern (early card), Ellen, and Emilie (a big thanks to you all). I don't remember what last year's count was so this isn't much of a study other than I find it interesting. By the way, I had a pretty wonderful day on my birthday exploring Chicago and enjoying a really nice dinner with Sean, Rose, and Michael. My only regret is not ordering dessert or buying a cake. It's a birthday thing...

Friday, October 7, 2016

It sounds like Kathy and Hal weathered the storm (pun intended). Which has to be a relief. I know how worrisome it can be when you are in the potential track of a hurricane (or two).

I had my first bone density scan today. I am curious about what the results will be. I wish I had thought to ask the technician if getting a copy of the scanned image was a possibility. Michael and I also went to Costco today and I am happy to report that we now have a freezer full of meat and pizzas.

I've been indulging Kali by sitting with her on the couch every day since we returned from our trip - sort of like doing penance for leaving for three weeks. It's been a tough job but someone has to do it.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Michael and I spent a few hours at Queen's beach yesterday and again today. On both days, there were small work crews working on the sprinkler system. They seemed to be enjoying themselves - I heard a lot of laughing and kidding around. It was hard not to smile.

We stopped at the supermarket yesterday on our way home from the beach and I made a dent in the laundry last night. I even managed to weed one of the planting areas this morning after my walk. Michael mowed the lawn and did some leaf raking and weed whacking. So some progress has been made in getting the yard back in shape. But there is still much that needs to be done...

I called Kathy this morning to find out if they planned to evacuate because of Hurricane Matthew. She said she and Hal are staying put but she did do laundry etc. in preparation for possibly losing power. I've been watching the news and it looks like they were not in the direct path so hopefully so far they are doing well.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Michael and I arrived back in Honolulu yesterday at about 2:45 pm HST after several hours on a couple of very long flights. Chelsea very kindly picked us up from the airport and I got to sit next to Levi and stare at his baby cuteness all the way home. I think Kali was glad to see us but it sounds like she bonded with Leslie and was well taken care of, which I am glad of. I opened and sorted a large stack of mail and got most of my unpacking done last night. And went to bed tired at 8:00 pm only to wake up at 1:00 am this morning thinking it had to be much later. I am guessing I will still be on Chicago time for a few more days.

I walked this morning with the senior gang and am now sitting on the couch with Kali - we are both in our usual spots. She has already given me a bath and a chest massage. Michael just returned from a long bicycle ride. It's amazing how quickly we all have reverted to our old routines. I am assuming we will be heading to the beach soon. Laundry, yard work, housework, and grocery shopping will have to wait. We have our priorities after all.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Michael and I walked down to the lakefront this morning and fantasized about what life would be like if we lived in Chicago. On the way back to Sean and Rose's place, we stopped in at the Four Stars studio to say hello to Sean. I also got a few of Mike Norton's prints including one that features Sean. I've been wanting it for a long time so it was really nice to finally get it. We ended up walking about 6.5 miles so I don't feel too badly about all the eating and drinking that took place later. :)

Tonight we went to a Mexican restaurant in Lincoln Square called Garcia's. I was a little surprised to find out how close Sean's current location is to his old apartment on Lawrence in Ravenswood. We drove by there and it was remarkable how different the area looked. Sears closed and there were several new businesses and restaurants.

Michael and I leave early tomorrow morning. I am sad to be so far away from Sean and Rose but they are talking about visiting us at Christmas. Which is a good thing...

Sunday, October 2, 2016

There are only a few more days before Michael and I return to Hawaii. Living out of a suitcase is not without its charms and as much as I miss my family and have enjoyed seeing everyone again, it will be good to be back home sleeping in my own bed.

It was nice to see Celina. After Sean picked her up from Union Station yesterday, he parked and we ate lunch at the Grand Lux Cafe. Then we headed for a store called Uniqlo, which I wish had a location in Honolulu as I liked the clothing styles and prices. I have to say I was really impressed by Sean's composure while looking for parking in Chicago. Michael admitted that the stress would have really gotten to him. We ended the day with dinner and drinks at Red Brick. I ordered and ate the very delicious burnt ends appetizer. Celina left early this morning. And just to repeat - it was nice to see her.

This morning I did laundry. I am not sure yet what I will wear on the plane when we return to Honolulu on Tuesday and wanted to make sure that whatever it turns out to be is clean. This afternoon, Michael and I went with Sean and Rose to run errands at Home Depot, the Asian Market, and Target. Michael bought pork cutlets and made dinner. I've said this before but it was nice to have someone cook such a great meal for all of us. Thank you Michael...

Saturday, October 1, 2016

The Doves (this includes Rose) went to Dove's Luncheonette in Wicker Park for lunch yesterday. Michael and I shared the Burnt Ends Hash. Really great mesh of flavors. Afterwards, we went to the Garfield Park Conservatory, which was absolutely amazing. The tropical plant areas were huge and really well laid out with hundreds of lush palms, ferns, bamboo, bromeliads, and other plant species on display. Add to that a few fishponds and rock walls with waterfalls and you have a very calming environment to walk around in and dream. When we got back to Rose and Sean's place, Rose made us dinner - delicious pasta, warm bread, and salad. For someone like me that usually does the cooking, it was nice to have a meal prepared for me even though I found myself feeling guilty at the same time.

Celina arrives later this morning at Union Station and it sounds like we may look for parking and hang out in downtown Chicago for a few hours.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Michael and I eventually ventured out yesterday with our umbrellas and walked to Wrigley Field and then back to Roscoe Village for lunch (4.23 miles according to the Nike app on my phone). It drizzled nearly the entire time but wasn't as chilly as I originally thought when I stepped outside. About halfway into the walk, I peeled off one layer of the four layers I had on because I was starting to sweat.

I believe we may be going to the Garfield Park Conservatory today with Sean and Rose. I just checked it out on the website and it looks really beautiful. I liked the description - "often referred to as landscape art under glass."

Celina arrives tomorrow morning by train and leaves Sunday morning. It will be really nice to see her again. Of my four nieces, she and Cat are the ones I am closest to. Both lived close by and I was given the incredible opportunity of being a part of their lives as they grew up. So it makes me happy knowing I will get to spend some time with her before I return to Hawaii.

I cancelled the MRI I had scheduled next week because HMSA denied coverage. I sent a message to my doctor and she asked if I'd like to see a neurologist. The one she recommended does nerve connection studies. She also mentioned physical therapy, which I am open to. I have a doctor's appointment on October 12th and plan to discuss these options with her then.

Thursday, September 29. 2016

The drive to Chicago on Tuesday was uneventful (that's a good thing). I did have a brief bittersweet flashback to the last time I was on I94 West in January of 2015 - I drove to Chicago to sell my car at CarMax and say goodbye to Sean and Rose before leaving for Hawaii. It seems like an eternity ago.

Yesterday, Michael and I planned to walk to Lake Michigan but the weather was uncooperative. It was cooler than it's been (which was okay) but was also raining (which was not as okay). We ventured out and managed to get in a short walk around the neighborhood before the rain picked up in intensity. Not having had the foresight to bring umbrellas, we retreated back to Sean & Rose's house, thankful that there was a dryer in their basement for our wet outer clothes.

Last night we went to the Miss Spoken lady live lit event at the Gallery Cabaret, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The topic was wedding bells and I couldn't help but wonder if Sean was a bit uncomfortable when Rose spoke about her own feelings on this topic. I had this brief fantasy that after her reading, he would get up on stage and propose. And the audience would go crazy. Of course that did not happen. (This is just another example of my imagination in overdrive.) I believe Sean's far too private for a public display on something so personal. And this is one of those areas that I, as a parent, do not feel is any of my business.

I am not sure what Michael and I are planning to do today. I expect we will venture out at some point. Weather permitting, of course.

Monday, September 25, 2016

Kathy and Joe left this morning and we plan to return to Chicago tomorrow morning. There are a few people we missed seeing in Ann Arbor but we managed to see nearly all the family members in the Detroit area over the weekend - most at Joel's birthday party on Sunday. My only regret is not having spent more time talking to Donna.

Today Michael, Butch, and I ate lunch at the Northside Grill and then headed to downtown Ann Arbor. We went to the Vault of Midnight and I purchased the latest copies of the comic Aloha Hawaiian Dick. I noticed that there are a lot of new restaurants and shops in the Main Street area. After being away from Ann Arbor for a few years, I have to admit there is a lot I miss - the parks, the river, and the downtown area are just a few.

I've appreciated the opportunity this trip is giving me to see my family again. Being with Butch and April feels like old times and I was happy that both Joe and Kathy took the time to travel to Michigan for the weekend. And it was good Shannon planned Joel's birthday party to take advantage of us out-of-towners being around as I have a feeling I wouldn't have seen a lot of family members otherwise.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

We have had a busy couple of days. On Thursday, Michael and I walked to Lilly Park and did a loop through the park. Butch, Michael and I then went to Big Boys so I could get my Slim Jim fix. In the evening, we met the Luczaks and the Mackes at the Jolly Pumpkin in downtown Ann Arbor for drinks and dinner. Ted (one of the coaches from Huron Crew) joined us as well. Good company with lots of crew news and gossip which I am sure Michael liked as he doesn't have anyone in Hawaii to talk to about crew.

Yesterday morning, Butch and I went for a walk at Parker Mill and then headed to the airport to pick up Joe and Kathy. We met Elizabeth for lunch at a noodle restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor. She is recuperating from strep throat and mono and it was her first outing all week. It was nice to see her and I enjoyed the appetizers Kathy and I ordered. I wanted to drop off some macadamia nuts at Casey's for our favorite trio of wait staff so Michael and I headed there for drinks and ended up sharing a BLT and onion rings. The Long Island was so strong I have to admit the rest of the evening was a blur. We met Butch, April, Joe, and Kathy at Paesano's after Casey's and I was pretty out of it. I woke up this morning at about 3am with a killer headache and read for awhile. I finally dozed off but kept waking up. I also ended up contacting our wait person at Casey's to find out if we paid our bill because I didn't remember doing so. Yep, I guess I tied one on...

Today we went to the Great Lakes National Cemetery to visit Dad's grave. It was a beautiful day to be out and about. On the way back to Ann Arbor we stopped in Fenton at a bakery called Crust for sandwiches. They also sold baked breads and pastries. It smelled great and made me wish we had a place like that close to our house in Honolulu.

The last time I saw most of my family members was at Dad's funeral and I am enjoying seeing everyone as it's been a long time. Joel's birthday party is tomorrow so I'll get to meet him for the first time. So it's been good so far for the most part.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Michael and I are slowly checking items off our Ann Arbor to-do list. Today we went to the Northside Grill for breakfast and caught up on all the gossip with Michael's old co-workers and the owner Jim. We also dropped by Internet2 and it was really nice chatting and catching up with all my old co-workers. We got lots of hugs at both places and it was nice seeing everyone again. Next we went to Batteries Plus and got the batteries replaced on four watches. Later in the afternoon, while Michael was out on the launch during Pioneer's crew practice, I walked the loop around Argo pond. It felt nice to walk through the wooded areas adjacent to the river. We ended the day by going to the Sidetrack for dinner with Butch and April. So all and all, another great day.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Michael and I ended up going to Grand Rapids this morning prior to heading to Ann Arbor. We went to both the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) to check out the entries for Art Prize, which is an annual competition in Grand Rapids. We also stopped by the Vault of Midnight Comic Book store and were pleased to find out that they were familiar with Brobots and carried it in their store. When we got to Ann Arbor we stopped at the boathouse for a few minutes and then dropped in at Casey's for a sandwich and drinks. It felt like old times as we got a really warm welcome from both Suzanne and John at Casey's. We drove through our old neighborhood next and chatted with the family that lived across the street from us and then went to Buhr Park to say a quick hello to Karol, who was at a dog training class. It was really nice seeing everyone again.

We are now at Butch & April's house and have settled in - enough that I am already doing laundry and watching NCIS with April. Like I said earlier - just like old times.

Monday, September 19, 2016

As it turned out, Rose was feeling much better yesterday so we went downtown for dinner as planned. We checked out the stores on Michigan Ave. and walked along the Chicago River prior to heading to dinner. We couldn't have asked for a better day - sunny and beautiful. And the food at Bavette's was phenomenal. Rose and Michael both ordered steaks and reported they were cooked to perfection. Sean ordered a pork chop that was at least three inches thick. I ordered short ribs with stroganoff - the ribs were super tender. We also ordered some side dishes including a salad, mac & cheese, a loaded baked potato, and brussels sprouts, which were all served family style. It was a really memorable dining experience.

We left for Saugatuck this morning and arrived mid-afternoon. We ate lunch at the Mermaid and then headed to Oval Beach for a few hours. When we got back to the hotel, I took a swim in the pool and then we got cleaned up in preparation for dinner at the Wild Dog in Douglas. Unfortunately, it turned out that the restaurant was closed on Mondays, so we ended up eating at Phil's in Saugatuck instead. We plan to head to Ypsilanti tomorrow as Michael decided not to visit his friend in Petoskey - said it was too much trouble. So a great start to my birthday week.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

I am officially 66 years old today so happy birthday wishes to me. Michael and I arrived in Chicago on Thursday afternoon. We walked about five miles on Friday exploring the area west of Sean's neighborhood which included the WMS Boathouse. On a path along the Chicago River, we discovered what looked like a homeless camp in a wooded area adjacent to the boathouse. An all too familiar sight on Oahu. On our way back to Sean and Rose's place, we stopped at Man-Jo-Vin on Damen Ave. for lunch and shared a double Chicago dog with all the fixin's. And then discovered that a bank across the street was giving away free hot dogs, chips, and drinks so of course we stopped there as well and shared another dog. My excuse is it was free and we are on vacation. We had dinner with Sean and Rose at a restaurant called Reno in Logan's Square (pizza and salad) and then went to Toy de Jour for their Stranger Things gallery opening at which Sean had a print. It was nice seeing Sam and Liz again and meeting some of Sean's other friends. I also met Julie Norton (Mike's wife) for the first time and really liked her a lot. Yesterday (Saturday), we went to the Apple Store in Lincoln Park. Rose is looking for a new laptop. It looks like she decided on the 12" rose colored MacBook but decided to buy it through Amazon to take advantage of their lower prices. We also went to the Gap where I discovered I could shimmy into a pair of their skinny ankle pants but they were too long. I did find a cute top I liked, however, and Michael ended up buying a lightweight hoodie and a new pair of shades. We stopped at Epic for burgers. Unfortunately, it turns out that Rose has some kind of stomach issue that is causing her a great deal of discomfort. She toughed it out last night at her Forever 31 birthday party at Weegee's Lounge but was up most of the night and I am guessing it hasn't been pretty. Michael and I left the party after a few hours and took our very first Uber ride back to Sean's place. The driver was really talkative - he claimed to be an ex-marine sniper.

We have dinner reservations at Bavette's in downtown Chicago tonight for my birthday but I have to admit that given Rose's situation I'd really prefer something simpler like staying in or going somewhere casual in Roscoe Village. It seems ungracious though to request a change when someone has gone through the trouble of making dinner arrangements on your behalf. Or am I just being too much of a Pedit?

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

More health related stuff... The doctor called regarding the X-rays taken yesterday of my right foot and of my cervical spine. The foot X-ray didn't show anything but the doctor said there could be something that just isn't showing up on the X-ray. The X-ray of my cervical spine shows some arthritis but more significantly a narrowing of the space between C5-C6. And because this is the location where the C6 nerve root branches off the spinal cord down my right arm, the numbness and occasional pain I have been experiencing are not a surprise. This is an all too familiar reminder of some not so great times in my life. I am going to the hospital for an MRI when I return from vacation and also have a follow-up doctor's appointment to address both this issue and the issue with my foot. The doctor has already indicated that she plans to refer me to a neurologist when I return. I have always known that my neck was going to dog me for the rest of my life and I have tried to be conscious of what I am doing to prevent aggravating this area but realize it is what it is. Ice packs and Aleve, I love you.

Monday, September 12, 2016

I had a doctor's appointment this morning. My lab work looks good and I am happy with my A1C level which is at 5.9. I would love to see this number at 5.6 - maybe someday. As a result, the doctor decided to decrease my Metformin dosage from two pills per day to one. I am curious to see how this might impact my A1C level when it is re-tested in 6 months. The doctor had me get X-rays of my right foot today to check out my foot pain. And she also had me get X-rays of my neck and spine to check if a pinched nerve might be causing some of the additional numbness and pain I have been experiencing in my right hand and arm. I thought it might be related to increased computer use but the doctor didn't seem to buy that theory. So we shall see. I am scheduled for a bone density test in October. And last but not least I got a Hepatitis A shot today. My Medicare and HMSA dollars at work although I expect to owe some hefty copays. (I was charged $45 at Longs for the Hep A vaccination) Despite this litany of medical issues, I feel pretty lucky to be as healthy as I am, especially when I look at the struggles of other family members.

Michael and I bought an inexpensive microwave at Target on Saturday after the one we have (which we inherited form Ellen) decided to no longer heat food. It's a bit smaller than the one it replaced and it's surprising how much more counter space it feels like we have.

We leave in two days - tick, tick, tick...

Sunday, September 11, 2016

It's the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11. And like many Americans, I remember where I was and what I was doing that day. Michigan National Bank, which at that time was owned by National Australia Bank, had just been purchased by ABN Amro, who was also the parent company of Standard Federal. In preparation for the merger, I was at a training class in Romulus, MI. Class had just started when one of the employees saw the news broadcast of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. We all ended up crowding into the employee lounge to watch the news reports and when the second plane hit there was that realization that these were intentional acts. The instructor tried to resume the training but as more newscasts came in regarding the crash into the Pentagon, he ended the class and excused us. As I drove back to Ann Arbor, news reports on the radio suggested that the Sears Tower in Chicago might also be a potential target and people began to evacuate the downtown area. I began to worry about Sean's safety and hoped that he was able to get to his apartment. The not knowing was scary and the time spent in the car alone listening to the news reports are some of the most surreal moments in my life. In the following days after all planes were grounded, there was an eerie silence in the skies punctuated by occasional military fighter jets. A very unsettling time that continues as other sites across the world have been targeted. I was in New York City a few years after 9/11 and visited ground zero while clean up continued and it was a sobering experience.

Friday, September 9, 2016

The neighbor's house across the street from ours was damaged by a molotov cocktail thrown at it earlier this week. They came over a few nights ago to let us know. They said they couldn't think of anyone they knew that would do something like that which leaves the possibility it was random and to me makes it even scarier. It makes me ask myself if we might need to consider opening a safe deposit box for important papers. Big, big sigh.

Seems funny to realize that we will be in Chicago a week from now. Both Michael and I have been in Hawaii now for well over a year (almost two years for Michael) and this is our first trip back together. My last trip back was 18 months ago for Dad's funeral which now seems like a big blur.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Michael and I went to the Honda dealership in Kaneohe to get a required annual vehicle inspection on our Fit this morning. Our car apparently passed as they slapped a sticker on the bumper and we are good to go until September 2017. We then headed to the Kaneohe Mall and after browsing the shops, had lunch at the Big City Diner. Note to self, do not order the Japanese noodles unless there are other people at the table to share with. The portion is HUGE. Michael noticed a sign for the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden as we were driving through Kaneohe to head back home so we went exploring. The botanical garden grounds are quite large with a road winding through them with parking areas, a visitor center, restrooms, etc. The backdrop of the mountains is beautiful. Nice all around...

I plan to get lab work done tomorrow morning in preparation for my doctor's appointment on Monday. I am hoping for an A1c of 6 or less. I also plan to ask about my right foot pain (finally). Fun, fun, fun...

Tuesday, September 6, 2016 The countdown to our trip to the mainland has begun. Tick, tick, tick... I guess I shouldn't be surprised but it looks like the midwest has been having some pretty warm weather so I may need to rethink what clothes I pack. A few pairs of shorts might be in order.

I worked at the library today. I've said it before but I really enjoy the staff and other volunteers. I also am highly entertained by all the middle school kids that are at the library after school between 3-5pm waiting for their parents to pick them up. The library has a cluster of computers that is adjacent to the book sale area and the kids normally congregate at the computers to play video games. Sometimes they get a little rowdy and it drives the security guard crazy. He really doesn't know how to handle kids and actually told one of the boys to "shut up" today which resulted in the boys going outside to mimic him and laugh about it. Of course, I spend my time trying not to laugh.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Michael and I went to Ala Moana this morning and after visiting four stores have concluded that long sleeve tees and/or hoodies with something local imprinted on them that are available in tiny kid sizes are not easy to find. I suspect there are shops that probably have what I am looking for, I just don't know where. Michael ended up coming home with some books and I bought a pair of jeggings because they looked like they might be comfortable on a long plane ride. But now I am wondering if loose might be better. You know, the kind of pants that send the message that this lady just doesn't care.

Hurricane Lester has impacted the direction of the wind and it is a hot muggy day...

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Yesterday would have been Dad's 88th birthday. Ignoring the fact that I am 5,000 miles away from the Detroit area, it seems funny not to have celebrated in some fashion. No sometimes uncomfortable moments at New Wing Hing or Red Lobster restaurants. I am not convinced there is an afterlife, but I hope for Dad that he is wherever his beliefs would have taken him. Happy Birthday, Dad.

Last night Michael and I went downtown for dinner at Murphy's. I tried their Oriental salad and after eating what seemed like half a head of cabbage, I remembered why I normally don't order a salad as an entree. I like my entrees to have a little more variety. We then went to the Hawaii State Art Museum. A new exhibition was opening showcasing recent acquisitions to the Art in Public Places Program. Ledward Kaapana, who is an Hawaiian musician, was performing. Excellent night of music and art. Michael mentioned that we had seen him before at the Ark but I must confess not remembering.

Hurricane Lester veered north and is pretty much a non-event so far for Oahu and I suspect it's going to stay that way. Best hurricane ever...

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Michael and I decided to get flu shots today. I thought it made sense to do it now before we travel in a few weeks and are trapped on a plane full of germs. I went to Kahala Mall this morning in hopes of finding a cute Hawaiian theme hoodie or sweatshirt for Joel. All I could find were short-sleeve tees which did not seem like a good option with colder weather expected in Michigan. I may try Ala Moana next week if I have time.

The weather today has been pretty variable - rain followed by sunny periods and occasional brisk winds. The last forecast I saw indicated that Madeline will be far enough south of Oahu that it may not be a huge issue. It's another story for the folks on the Big Island. On its current path, Lester is traveling north of us but looks like it's a bit closer to Oahu than Madeline. So far, so good with Lester being the big unknown.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

One of my neighbors made me laugh this morning when he said we had a triple threat to Oahu this week - Madeline, Lester and Obama. It did make me wonder if he is a Republican. Obama is arriving tomorrow for a conference - unfortunately it will mean freeways will be closed for his motorcade so traffic gridlock will be making many drivers' commutes a nightmare. We are already feeling the effects of Hurricane Madeline which is on track to impact the Big Island tomorrow and will hopefully only be a wind/rain event for Oahu as it moves through the islands. Hurricane Lester is on the heels of Madeline and is also expected to impact the islands but at this point it is unclear what path it will take. Michael and I haven't really done much to prepare but I am charging everything I can charge in anticipation of losing power and will pull out flashlights, etc. so they are handy. I also plan to move potted plants under the eaves to give them some protection from the winds and excessive rain. The price of living in paradise, I guess.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Busy day yesterday. I spent about an hour at the Apple Store in the morning. They erased and then reinstalled the operating system software on my laptop. I need to recreate the photo book I was working on for 2008 and am hopeful that I'll be able to place my order when it's finished.

I met Ellen for lunch at CPK following my appointment with the Apple "genius." After lunch she dropped by our house to catch up. She returns to Arizona on Monday. Her schedule has been fairly hectic while here and she looked tired. I get though that when you work from home 99% of the time, having to teach in person for a week would be exhausting. She mentioned that Cat is off of work for a few months - not unexpected as Microsoft (or is it Nintendo?) is pretty careful about not allowing their contract workers to exceed whatever the legal hour limit is per year to avoid paying benefits. As I recall it's 1000 hours. Cat and her roommate will be joining Ellen in Vegas while she is there for a work related conference (I believe in early October). Ellen returns to Hawaii in late October.

Last night Michael and I went to Waikiki to check out the newly opened International Marketplace. We were planning to eat dinner at a restaurant called Stripsteak. We were seated but the wait person didn't return to our table for several minutes after dropping off menus so we left. We ended up at Chuck's Cellar and split an entree (delicious Cajun style mahi mahi). Very relaxing, plus we had the bonus that Leslie was working and let's just say the meal and drinks were easy on the pocketbook. We happened to walk down to Queen's Surf and the Barefoot Beach Cafe was in party mode. They had a buffet set up with rice, potato salad and green salad and were grilling steak, chicken and fish to order. They also had a band playing - it looked like people were having a great time.

Today I spent time adding files, purchased software, etc back to my computer. I was unable to get Office to download and ended up talking to a support person in India. Pretty nice guy. I also discovered that my computer wouldn't recognize my external drive so I am extremely happy that I had backed up all my files on two external drives instead of relying on one. After much troubleshooting using Google, I discovered that if I erased all the data on the drive and "mounted" it (whatever the hell that means) it would be usable again on the Mac - so I did that and it seems to be working again. But now, of course, I don't trust it anymore. I also found after getting the OS reinstalled, that my Mac wouldn't recognize my Kindle. After several restarts, the Kindle icon finally appeared on the desktop but it won't surprise me if this reoccurs. I am having a love hate relationship with my electronics. Sigh...

Thursday, August 25, 2016

The trades returned today. Finally some relief from the hot mugginess we have been experiencing. I went to a movie at the Doris Duke Theater (Honolulu Museum of Art) today with one of the library volunteers I work with. It was about Leonardo da Vinci's time in Milan. I thought it was a great production. The person I went to the movie with shares a lot of my interests and I was hopeful I'd found someone to do things with. But she is moving to Mt. Tabor (Portland area) next month. Sigh...

I am taking my computer back to the genius bar at the Apple Store tomorrow. This will be my second visit for an issue I have been having with Photos on my Mac. I am hoping that they are able to resolve it because it impacts my ability to print the photo books I have been creating in Photos. I am also meeting Ellen for lunch tomorrow after my appointment at the Apple Store. She is in Honolulu for the beginning of the school year frenzy.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

I had a good laugh today when the security guard at the library remarked that I must have been a real fox back in the day. I had no idea how to respond - I think I may have snorted.

Monday, August 22, 2016

So I found out this morning that leftover wine in a wineglass makes a good roach motel - there were three very dead cockroaches in Michael's wineglass this morning. Big eww...

We went to Queen's Beach this morning shortly after a 10-12 foot shark was sighted. We watched the "Shark Sighted" warning signs go up and people were asked to leave the water. Lifeguards on jet skis and a helicopter were searching the water. it was kind of eerie to look out on the usually busy ocean and not see surfers, paddle boarders, swimmers, etc.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

There was a fairly heavy sustained rain last night around 9:30pm. Today's weather has been either bright sunshine or drizzling rain. I've spent much of the afternoon on the front lanai reading and playing on the computer with excursions into the house when it starts to get wet. The rain has turned out to be a good thing as I've used that time to do laundry and other little household chores.

Yesterday morning I went to disaster preparedness training in Aina Haina. They covered shelter basics and how to access damage to homes. The training coordinator told me that a small core group in Niu Valley is starting a preparedness group so I will probably start attending those meetings once they get organized. (Yep, I'm a follower, not a leader.)

Twenty-four days, not that I am counting...

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Big day for the Doves. We went to Waimea Bay today. The water was actually a bit murky when we first arrived but then it suddenly cleared up - not sure why. It also rained on and off but we spent most of our time in the water so we were wet anyway. The Fire Rescue guys were training while we were there which was kind of fun to watch. They were taking turns rescuing each other. I also finally tried out the mask/snorkel I bought a while ago at Longs. Unfortunately other than some little silver fish along the shoreline I didn't see any sea life. We stopped at Cholo's in Haleiwa for lunch so a very nice day. A big thanks to Michael for thinking of it and doing the driving.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

I took my laptop to the Apple Store today and they were unable to figure out what was causing the issue. They resolved it by setting up a new user. I just ordered my 2009 Photo Book so the fix seems to be working. Of course while we were at Kahala Mall we ended up buying a couple of bags at Ross for our upcoming trip. I found a computer style bag that you can wear as a backpack and Michael bought a sporty looking backpack so we are all set for what we will carry on the plane. And then I found a cute dress on sale at Macy's that's a little long but otherwise fit me so I did a little happy dance and bought it.

Repotted plants and raked leaves today, Fun, fun, fun...

Monday, August 15, 2016

You would never know that Michael and I cleared the yard of leaves a few days ago. I guess, however, that I'd rather do one big yard clean up once a week vs raking everyday.

My photo book project has come to a halt for now. I have been trying to "purchase" my 2009 book for over a week now and keep getting a message that the store is unavailable. I have been on the phone with Apple Support twice and none of their troubleshooting suggestions have worked. I have an appointment to see one of the geniuses at the Apple Store on Wednesday. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the solution isn't going to mean recreating the book as it is pretty time consuming. Sigh...

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Leaves seem to be falling at a more rapid pace and I think the plumeria trees have peaked. Leslie was over this morning to pick flowers and didn't get a lot of blossoms. I spent 2-3 hours today raking and doing yard clean-up. If I get motivated tomorrow, I'll work on the area by the driveway.

I woke up this morning to find a big broadleaf ti plant cutting by the mailbox that a couple I walk with in the morning left for me. I divided it and should get about 6 new plants from the cutting. They have been really generous with cuttings from another ti plant and also gave me several air plants from their yard. I feel lucky to have met so many nice neighbors on my early morning walks.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Just call me a dog's best friend. When I was walking this morning, a small dog started following me. I became worried when it became evident she didn't know where she lived. She ran up the driveway of nearly every house we walked by. I tried to coax her along in hopes that if we walked around the block her owner would be outside looking for her. Nearly a third of a mile later, a man in a jeep stopped to claim her. She was a rescue dog that he had recently adopted. I am not a "dog person" and I don't know what kind of dog she was but I actually kind of liked her. But I do have to admit that I was glad she didn't relieve herself on anyone's lawn. Arf...

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Big shopping day yesterday at Fisher Hawaii (office supplies) and Target. And as always we managed to spend mega bucks. I am not sure on what but I am pretty certain we needed it. Cat food, kitty litter, toilet paper, garbage bags, it all adds up fast.

I broke down and purchased the first season of Mr. Robot. I have been watching season two and must admit feeling a little confused at times so I believe having the background and seeing the character development in the first season should help.

The countdown to our vacation (is it still called a vacation when you are retired?) has begun. I am really looking forward to visiting family and returning to places that are so familiar to me.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Yesterday was the two year anniversary of Mom's death and I couldn't find words that adequately expressed my feelings. And I am aware that I am not going to find them today either. So I will simply say she was a good, kind woman and I miss her.

Monday, August 8, 2016

Due to tropical storm Howard (have to love the name), we have had more rain than usual and it's been really hot and humid the last few days. I am currently sitting under the ceiling fan and have another fan pointed at my chair to keep cool as I watch the Olympics. Kali approves as she keeps hopping on my lap.

Yesterday, Michael and I took the paddle boards out in the bay in front of the valley and spent some time in the water cooling off. I sure had an embarrassing time trying to maneuver myself back on the board - let's just say words like graceful or fluid did not come to mind. This morning I went hiking at the Koko Crater Botanical Garden with a woman I work with at the library. It was the first time I hiked this location and the plants in the crater were all pretty drought resistant and included a cactus and succulent garden, a plumeria grove, African and Madagascan plants, and more.

Friday, August 5, 2016

I was thinking about what content I will not post about on this blog. Sex is generally taboo. As are any private conversations I have with loved ones. Or anything I know about that would cause embarrassment or hurt. Although I occasionally will post about things that annoy me and sometimes I mention names but most of the time I try to be vague.

Slow day today. I replaced Kali's kitty litter and did yard work this morning. And then worked for a few hours at the library this afternoon. I am not sure what the plans are yet for dinner tonight. It's First Friday so downtown is an option. If it weren't for the parking hassles I suspect we would go into Honolulu more often.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

I had a busy day at the library yesterday. My book sales totaled $36, which may not seem like a lot of money but most of the time my sales are closer to $10. (Books cost on average $.50-$1.00.) Today, Michael and I spent the day at Waimanalo Bay. The man o' war caution sign was posted but it didn't seem to deter the body surfers. When we arrived at about 11:00am, the beach was fairly empty. I was initially surprised but then I realized the kids returned to school this week - as evidenced by the increase in school traffic in Niu Valley mornings and afternoons when parents drop off and pick up their children from the middle school that is a few blocks from our house.

Monday, August 1, 2016

I decided to move my investment account (former 401k from what was once Michigan National and is now Bank of America) from Merrill Lynch (part of Bank of America) to the investment rep at a nearby First Hawaiian Bank. There is no Merrill Lynch presence here that I can find and when I moved to Hawaii, they assigned me an investment rep located in New Jersey. Given the six hour time difference, that's just crazy. It turns out the guy at FHB is quite the talker - both times that I have visited his office, I have been there for an hour for a 15 minute transaction. Which is okay. He moved here from Hong Kong and seems like a pretty nice guy.

The missing hardware for the bookcase I purchased at Walmart arrived in the mail today. Thanks to Kathy for suggesting I contact the bookcase manufacturer to request the missing screws vs. returning the shelves to the store. It was one of those "doh, why didn't I think of that" moments. It's nice to have such smart sisters.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Another beautiful day - I am sitting on the front lanai and the trades are blowing, the sky is blue, who could ask for anything more?

I tried to binge watch Mr Robot this morning but after watching the first three episodes of season two, decided it was too nice of a day to stay inside. I should mention that I did not watch season one and am too cheap to purchase it but I can see how it might have helped me figure out who is who. And it would be useful to know what happened in season one that led to what's going on now. But I still enjoyed watching it and I like that Dahlia from Suburgatory is one of the main characters.

I just finished reading a book called Norwegian by Night by Derek Miller that I liked a lot - well written and a good story. I am going to check the shelves the next time I am at the library to see what else they may have by him. This is one of my favorite passages.

This life. What a question! No one really wants to know the answer to this.

In this life, my body has become a withered twig, where once I stood tall. I distinctly remember the lush earth and beech trees of New England - outside my bedroom window as a child - growing in kingdoms. My parents near me.

In this life, I hobble like an old man, when once I could fly over doubts and contradictions.

In this life, my memories are the smoke I choke on, burning my eyes.

In this life, I remember hungers that will never return. When I was once a lover with the bluest eyes she had ever seen - deeper than Paul Newman's, darker than Frank Sinatra's.

This life! This life is coming to an end without any explanation or apology, and where every sense of my soul or ray of light through a cloud promises to be my end.

This life was an abrupt and tragic dream that seized me during the wee hours of a Saturday morning as the sunrise reflected off the mirror above her vanity table, leaving me speechless just as the world faded to white.

And even if they did want to know, who is there left to tell.

Thursday, July 28, 2010

"We are pleased to tell you that the results of your mammogram exam appear to be normal." Whew... The antibiotics seem to be doing the trick on my UTI so all that's left is the foot pain, which once I resumed walking this week started hurting again. It doesn't seem to matter that I've reduced the mileage. Michael thinks I need to buy some shoe inserts so I may give that a try. But I believe it will still be an issue when I go in for my September doctor appointment so I'll bring it up then along with some other issues that have cropped up. My body warranty has apparently expired.

I got my hair cut a few days ago and it's a bit shorter than I requested but I have to admit it's been cooler not having hair on my neck. Looks like I should use some mousse or something though because my fine hair has no volume.

I picked up another shift at the library for the next four weeks. I will be covering Friday afternoons for one of the volunteers that is on vacation.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Okay, so now I am thinking urinary tract infection again as I suffered through a second evening of discomfort last night. I guess I'll give the doctor's office a call. This is when you wish you could just talk to a doctor on the phone vs. jumping through the hoops of having to make an appointment. I do think it is odd, however, that I am mostly having symptoms in the evening and it's not as bad during the day. Sigh...

Oh, and the screen on my iPad Mini now has a series of cracks after I accidentally knocked it off my desk this morning. Not a great last couple of days.

UPDATE: I just returned from the doctor's office and it turns out my urine tested positive so I am now taking antibiotics for a UTI. I am glad it turned out to be that instead of something more complicated.

Monday, July 25, 2016

I was a bit premature in my tropical storm Darby assessment. We got the brunt of the storm yesterday evening with torrential rains coming through and lots of thunder and lightning. We rarely have thunder and lightning here so when the first blast of thunder boomed I swear I jumped six inches off the couch. Also, when your house is a concrete slab on the ground, you live in a valley with water rushing downward, and it's raining at the rate of a few inches/hour, it is hard not to worry about flooding. Some pretty big pools of water were forming right next to the house from water running off the roof. I see the value of gutters. Sand bags, anyone?

Also, while all this was occurring, I think I passed a kidney stone - a very uncomfortable couple of hours. Key words here are "I think" as I don't really know what was going on. I initially thought I might have a urinary tract infection - frequent urgent and painful urination and an inability to empty my bladder. But then suddenly after a trip to the bathroom, I was okay. Another one of life's mysteries that I turned to google for answers and ended up with more questions.

I went to Queen's Hospital this morning for my 3D imaging mammogram. I should have the results in a few weeks and of course I am hoping I don't get a call back and that all is well. And a big thanks to Michael for driving and keeping his cool when the parking garage we planned to park in was closed.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Tropical storm Darby has led to an increase in rain and wind on Oahu but for the most part is a non-event. We lost power for a few hours last night and I spent a few minutes this morning picking up small fallen branches and twigs but that's about it. And the rain is much needed.

I am on day three of not walking and I have to admit it is making me a little nuts. The foot pain has abated but it won't surprise me if it returns when I resume walking in a few days. Yes, I am going to give my foot a few more days of rest. My mammogram is tomorrow morning so I would not have walked tomorrow anyway. Sigh...

We moved a few pieces of furniture this weekend - I now have the big futon chair that was on the back patio in the room I am using as my office. It's pretty comfy so I think it's going to work out. I purchased a bookcase from Walmart a few days ago to add shelf space inthe same room only to discover that whoever packed the screws, etc. in the box didn't bother to count them and two critical pieces are missing. Bah... The thought of having to rebox all the pieces and lug the box back to Walmart is not making me a happy camper.

I have completed and received five photo books so far (2011-2015) and continue to be pleased with them. They make me happy...

Wednesday, July 20, 2010

My thanks to Donna for filling in the blank spaces regarding my posting on Monday.

So I have a bit of a conundrum for which I know the answer but don't like it. I am not sure if it is related to my walking shoes or simply stress from too much mileage, but I have developed a pain on the outside center of the right foot where there seems to be a little bone that protrudes. Initially it only hurt when I was out on my morning walks but now it hurts anytime I put pressure on my foot. And I should mention that this has been going on for weeks. Last week I reduced my mileage from 30 miles to 20 miles and did not walk Saturday and Sunday to see if that would help. What seemed to help was the two days of not walking. So I know the prudent thing to do is to get it checked out by my doctor and/or stop pounding the pavement mornings but I can't seem to get myself to do either. I am in a "I'll give it a few more weeks" mode. I have a routine doctor's appointment scheduled in September... What to do, what to do...

Monday, July 18, 2016

There were a few postings from my nephews on Facebook yesterday regarding their cousin's suicide. This person is not related to me - I am assuming he is one of my sister-in-law Marilyn's nephews. Apparently he was at my nephew Ryan's home and Ryan found him. I imagine it is an incredibly troubling and sad time for any one connected to this person and I found Shannon's posting on FB today about his suicide and depression to be very thoughtfully written.

But I am ashamed to admit to wanting details about the cause of death. I think I'm a little like my mother in that regard because she used to include a lot of detail when talking about how her family members died. Let's just say I am morbidly curious and maybe a bit insensitive...

Saturday, July 16, 2016

It's hard to believe that in two months, Michael and I will be in Chicago. I'm kind of excited to be going somewhere. Of course, Delta has now changed our reservations twice and I am not happy with seat selection on two of the flights or that the trip to Chicago now has two stops instead of one. Grrr...

Thursday afternoon I paddled in the bay in front of the valley while Michael surfed and thought about how peaceful it is when you are just surrounded by water. I was a bit jealous though when Michael told me he saw a big sea turtle where the waves were breaking. We stopped at McDonalds on our way home, just two dripping wet oldsters hanging out.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

I am such a sucker... Today is one of those hot sticky days and I was sitting on the front patio with a cold drink, pretzels, and a spy thriller trying to stay cool when suddenly I hear Kali meowing by the sliding screen door. So guess who is sitting on the couch right now watching Rachel Ray with a hot little furry body plastered to my side. I'm such an old softie.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Happy Birthday wishes today to Celina who is turning 21. I wonder if she drinks because if yes, she can now do so openly and legally. And if she doesn't drink, she can now buy me one. Just saying...

I saw another cane spider in the house last night and it was a mere six inches from where I was sitting in the room I use as my office. It wasn't as big as the one I captured in the bathroom and released outside in April. Unfortunately it ran into another room and disappeared before I could capture it. Kali normally spots bugs so I was a bit surprised she didn't see and start tracking this one given its size. It's a good thing I'm not overly afraid of bugs but admittedly if it had crawled on me I would probably have reacted and made some noise. I've gotten pretty blasé about geckos and even roaches but big spiders still get my attention, especially when they are in close proximity.

I am working at the library this afternoon - air conditioned bliss.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Recent posts on FB by Michael's grand-niece suggest she is feeling somewhat defensive about being a stay-at-home Mom. She has also started using and promoting an energy and weight loss supplement called Thrive and has expressed some disappointment with friends and/or relatives that are not in her mind being supportive. When she approached me, I thanked her for thinking of me and told her that I err on the side of caution when it comes to these types of products so I am sure that I fall in the unsupportive category. And that makes me a little sad but I truly have no interest in committing to the Thrive lifestyle. I wish her the best and hopes she is successful in this endeavor not only as a user but also a promoter of this product.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Sean celebrated his 37th birthday yesterday and I find myself asking where did all that time go. Thirty-seven years, wow... I feel fortunate every day to have played a part in the existence of such an incredible human being.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

I am compiling photos for my 2011 photo book and have run across photos taken before my 30+ pound weight loss. They are painful to look at, which is interesting because I generally don't judge other people's attractiveness based on their weight. Just my own apparently. And I have several more years of photos to go through. The historian in me knows that these photos should be included. They represent a part of my life. But as I work my way backwards in time through my old photos, there is a part of me that is going to have a hard time looking at images of myself and not liking what I see. Sigh, I guess I need to be more accepting of myself and shush my inner critic. It does remind me though that Mom always claimed she didn't like getting her photo taken and I can't help but wonder if it was for the same reason.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

I am started to think that Siri is eavesdropping on me when I'm chatting with people. She randomly starts talking out of the blue. It's kind of funny but also a little creepy.

The social security dude, David Martinez, called me today and I found myself feeling pressure to make an on the spot decision about when to start benefits. As it turns out, even though I didn't submit my application for benefits until June 1, because I started my application in February, I can begin taking social security payments retroactively from February. Payments would be at a reduced monthly rate but if you do the math, the amount gained by taking the lower amount starting in February vs. waiting for the higher benefit in September would take 14.44 years to make a difference. I'll be 80 years old. I decided to go ahead and take the payments retroactively. There's nothing like making a HUGE life decision on the fly.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Happy Independence Day! Michael and I were invited to a block potluck that turned out to be a lot of fun. It started with a children's parade - the neighborhood kids decorated their bikes, scooters, strollers, etc. with streamers and balloons and rode around the block. And the food was awesome. I am officially stuffed. I also fulfilled my life long dream of seeing the bomb shelter that the former owner of the house across the street built in the 60's after the Cuban missile crisis. I would definitely not want to spend any extended time down there as it seemed like the air was pretty stale.

Thursday, June 30. 2016

Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday except I washed the bath mat and a throw rug instead of sheets and towels. After not hearing back from Social Security, I called their toll free number this morning to check on the status of my application for Social Security benefits. I asked if I could make an appointment at the local office to talk to a representative and was told no. It turns out that because I applied on-line, I was assigned to David Martinez in Salinas, CA and he is the one working my case (so apparently the email I received in early June was legitimate). I am apparently in his queue and he has a lot of cases. Not very reassuring. When I said I would be more comfortable at this point talking to someone face to face, I was advised that walking into the Honolulu office to request assistance is an option but I'd be chancing a long wait for service. Sigh, our federal government at work.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Michael and I spent a few hours relaxing at the beach today. They had the jellyfish caution signs up so other than surfers there weren't a lot of people in the water.

I am currently in the process of washing linens and towels but I think I will wait until tomorrow to clean the house. I always have to remind myself that there isn't any real urgency to do a lot of the household chores - one of the benefits of retirement.

My photo book project continues. I am currently working on a book for 2013. It's pretty much finished except for fine tuning the text. I am happy with the books I completed for 2014 and 2015 and look forward to starting the 2012 book. It's fun going through each year's photos and seeing all the places I visited. Lots of good memories.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Bern left tonight and I have to admit that as good as it was to see him, I am really looking forward to getting back to my routine. For example, I plan to spend tomorrow vegging at the beach. That said, I am glad we had a chance to catch up. He mentioned a few projects he is planning and I wish him the best in trying to get his life back on track.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

No Chinese last night, we ended up eating tuna sandwiches instead. But we did go to Lung Fung tonight and as usual I ate too much. Bern tried out his dentures and his lowers slipped and he ended up not being able to enjoy dinner. So as I type this, he is in the kitchen cutting up his food into tiny pieces so he can eat. He says his tooth loss is due to being hit in the face when he was incarcerated at Terre Haute. In fact a lot of his health issues seem to be directly or indirectly related to that time period in his life. A series of unfortunate events...

Saturday, June 25, 2016

After a stay at home day on Thursday, we went to the Waikiki Aquarium yesterday morning and then relaxed for about an hour in a shady spot under a tree by Queen's Surf waiting for Michael to return from surfing. We ended up eating dinner at Chili's and walked through Kahala Mall, stopping at Longs for a few items. Bern has been napping most of today so far. Michael and I did some shopping in Hawaii Kai this morning (City Mill and Ross). I wanted to buy some potting soil as I have a few plants I'd like to divide and pot. I also found a couple of inexpensive ceramic pots at Ross that will make a good addition to my ever growing container garden.

Bern has only a few more days here and I am hoping he doesn't return to Alaska disappointed not to have done more but from conversations with him it sounds like he's already been to a lot of the "usual" places we typically take visitors and hasn't seemed interested in going again. The opposite of me who never tires of going to the Pali, Roundtop Drive, North Shore, etc. I am not sure what we are doing for dinner tonight. Chinese anyone?

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Bern has been here since Monday evening. He doesn't seem to have an agenda. It reminds of when I used to ask Mom what she'd like to do or where she'd like to go when I visited and she'd respond "wherever you want to go is fine." And then as I was leaving she'd mention a store or restaurant she wanted to go to. I am hoping that isn't what happens when Bern leaves. We drove out to Geobunga in Waimanalo on Tuesday to look at ceramic pots and yesterday we went to the Honolulu Museum of Art. It looks like we are hanging out at home today.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Today is laundry day which means I am also changing the sheets on the beds and putting fresh towels in the bathroom. The house is fairly clean although I am waiting until Monday to clean the bathroom and I haven't dusted yet. Kali was a little freaked out about the bed being moved from my room to Michael's room for Bern to use. Ironically Michael claims he likes it in there. Who knew? I ended up putting a pad on the floor in my room to replace the bed and Kali seemed okay lounging on it last night when I was watching TV. We also moved the kitty litter to my room and she has been using it, so far so good.

I am feeling really lethargic today - like if I had a hammock in the shade I'd be sleeping in it right now.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

I cleaned our painted concrete floor today and had to scrub up a lot of stubborn gecko droppings. Someone really need to toilet train those little buggahs. I need to tackle cleaning Michael's office tomorrow to start getting it ready for our visitor. Kali's kitty litter is getting moved to my room and I am hoping she catches on quickly.

I had a retinal eye exam today. I like that they take images of your eye balls and you can see your optic nerve and all the little blood vessels. Eyes were fine by the way.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Murphy's law... We arrived at the hotel yesterday only to be told that due to a maintenance issue we were being relocated to one of their sister hotels. It turned out to be smaller, very dated, and NO pool. Very disappointing and in retrospect it made me wish we had put up a fuss, declined, and requested a refund. The first thing Michael did when we returned home this morning is go to bed. That said, we had a very lovely dinner at the Beachhouse. Afterwards we walked and checked out the shops in Waikiki. So while the hotel didn't work out as planned, we did have a nice anniversary evening.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Michael and I are celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary today. We have a reservation at a "budget" hotel in Waikiki tonight and I am hoping for a clean, bug free room (wishing I had not read the guest reviews, which ranged widely in their ratings). We also have dinner reservations at the Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider. So this old married couple is going all out tonight.

I played hooky last night and did not go to my Tai Chi class. I just couldn't seem to get motivated to go - mostly because I find the 5:30pm time difficult. So guess who I ran into this morning while I was out walking - the instructor, Lucy, who also lives in Niu Valley. She said she noticed I was not at the session last night (so much for anonymity). Any guilt I was already feeling about not attending was magnified ten-fold in this one awkward moment. I mentioned to her that I would not be in attendance for the next few weeks either because we had an out of town guest staying with us but that I would be viewing the videos she makes of her classes on-line and would practice. I felt like a wayward teenager.

Friday, June 10, 2016

I started going through my 2014 photos last night to select images for a photo book. It was difficult looking at the photos of my mom in what turned out to be the last year of her life. She looked tired and it made me think of how many times in the months leading up to her death she had been in and out of both Botsford Hospital and the rehab wing at the Village of Redford. And while she forged on and never lost her sense of humor, I can't help but wonder what it was like for her to know that her health was rapidly failing.

On a brighter note, my 2015 Photo Books arrived today and I am really happy with how they turned out. I'm excited about working on my 2014 collection of photos.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

I hate the feeling of paranoia that sets in when dealing remotely on financial matters. In this case, I recently applied for social security benefits on line and received a short email advising me to call a phone number (855 area code) with an extension to speak to a David Martinez. I called the number this morning, entered the extension and got a voice mail advising me that David Martinez would be out of the office until June 28 and to please leave my name, social security number, and phone number. I left my name and phone number but not my social security number because I really didn't feel good about about the legitimacy of the email. I then googled the phone number and there were several comments from people who received a similar email and got the same voice mail request to leave their social security number when they called the number. It doesn't appear to be a scam but the suggestion to call the posted number for Social Security to verify seems to be sensible. I guess this is why people make an appointment at their local social security office instead of going the remote route. Yikes...

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

I must be like a piece of furniture - a lizard hopped on my shoulder this morning and then proceeded to casually walk down my torso to my leg before hopping off. It felt kind of creepy. I have also had birds land on me or walk on my feet at the beach. I guess I really need to move around more.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

I went to my first Tai Chi class last night and am hopeful I might actually master a few moves over the next ten weeks but admittedly I felt very clumsy and was always a few steps behind. I can see though how Tai Chi might help with balance and strength. And a stupid observation, out of a class of perhaps 40 or so there was only one other caucasian, which I found interesting.

I've got library duty in a few hours. The Friends of the Library are having a children's book sale till 4:00pm today and I am cashiering (which I would be doing anyway). I am thinking about going to the grocery store following my stint at the library but I guess I'll play that by ear as I may just want to get home to relax. We shall see...

I've been in contact with Bern and it's given me a little more perspective on his health issues and dietary needs. Helpful information as he will be visiting in a few weeks. He mentioned a sensitivity to the sun which he didn't explain but I expect may be drug related as I've taken drugs in the past that have a caution sticker on the label about sun exposure. And he has made me grateful to have my teeth.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

It looks like another beautiful day here. It rained for a few hours in the wee hours this morning and we woke up to a cool breeze and the sounds of the birds.

I've been on a window cleaning spree. I still have the dining room windows, sliding glass doors, and a few of the non-louvred windows to do. Because the louvered windows are open most of the time and lay flat, they tend to accumulate a lot of dust and outside dirt on the top surfaces. And while I am on this cleaning spree, I should probably throw the futon couch cover in the washer as I am sure it is covered in Kali's cat hair. Michael and I raked up all the leaves and blossoms in the yard a few days ago and they are already starting to accumulate again but I am grateful for the shade and beauty the trees provide.

Friday night, we went to the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Honolulu. Following dinner at Murphy's, we checked out a few of the galleries in the Chinatown area and discovered a beautiful courtyard on Smith St. adjacent to a building that had a number of really cool artists lofts, some occupied and some available to lease. I love seeing the art and restaurant scene so alive in downtown Honolulu.

Wednesday, June 1, 2015

We finally got a few days of much needed rain. It seems like it's been months since we have actually had rain during the day. Between the rain and the wind though, we now have a yard covered in mango and plumeria leaves and blossoms. I woke up this morning to find a big ti plant cutting in my yard from one of the couples I walk with occasionally. I am going to cut it into sections to root in a bucket of water. It looks I may be able to get about six plants from the cutting they left.

I am enjoying volunteering at the library. It's fun to talk to the other volunteers, library staff, and the people that stop to buy books when I am cashiering. I am also finding that it's pretty relaxing shelving books and I get a little exercise at the same time stretching upwards to the higher shelves and then downwards to the lower shelves. I joined some of the other volunteers this morning for Tai Chi. They meet once a week in a back room at the library. I am really uncoordinated right now but am hoping my mind and body will eventually begin to synchronize the movements and flow. I am signing up for a beginner level Tai Chi class offered weekly through the Honolulu Recreation Department in hopes that I can nail down at least a few of the movements.

Michael mentioned that BK is having a special 2 for $10 deal on Whopper combos - may have to go check that out. :)

Saturday, May 28, 2016

I am beginning to question the quality control on grocery items at Target (gasp!). Last month we purchased some meat items only to discover later that two of the packages were past the expiration date (one of them by four weeks). Of course, we should have checked the dates before purchasing but it was still disappointing. On our visit to Target yesterday, I couldn't believe how many severely dented cans were on the shelves. I guess I just expect more of Target. We go there because we liked going to Target on the mainland and their prices tend to be lower on packaged food and beverages but these latest incidents do make me pause a little.

We went to lunch at Buzz's in Lanikai yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. We had a great table out on the lanai overlooking the beach and Leslie treated us to the calamari steak appetizer and a round of drinks. I ordered the Friday special - ham and cheese stacked between a slice of Hawaiian sweetbread with a side of coleslaw. Michael ordered a steak salad. Both were delicious.

I finally started putting together a photo book using iPhoto. This is part of my idea to convert all my old photo albums into printed photo books. I am working backwards starting with my 2015 photos. It was my first year back in Hawaii and even with sorting there are a shocking amount of photos that I'd like to include so I may end up with two albums for this year. How the one I am working on turns out once printed will be a good indicator of whether I am on the right track to continue with the remaining years (about 40). Life after retirement in action...

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Wow, I can't believe it has been a week since I've posted anything. The disaster course I went to last Sunday was interesting. It was designed to make participants more aware of risk factors should a disaster occur. There is a series of three training courses in June that cover actions people should be taking to prepare for a disaster and what to do during and following an event. I planned to go to these but the last session in the series is scheduled when Bern is here so I've decided to wait until they are offered again. I'd also like to talk Michael into attending but so far he hasn't shown much interest.

We went to the Ala Moana Shopping Center yesterday. After a year of looking, I actually found a cute dress on sale at Macy's that fit me and did a happy dance in the dressing room before paying for it. And am now thinking maybe I should have bought a second dress in a different color. Just because... I also bought a book for beginners of Tai Chi with all kinds of diagrams showing the different movements. Hah, like it's going to help!

Friday, May 20, 2016

Donna's lumpectomy was this morning and she is now home recuperating. I am glad Elizabeth is with her. The days leading up to the surgery had to be very stressful and I suspect the radiation treatments that are ahead of her aren't helping with all the mind games that I imagine are racing through her head.

And yet another sunny day here in Honolulu. It rained a little overnight but otherwise it has been pretty dry lately. I wish we would get a nice downpour because since the beginning of the year when it has rained on this side of Oahu, it has always been short-lived. There was fire on one of the ridges by Kahala a few days ago. I am not sure what started it but the dryness of the brush on the hillside couldn't have helped.

I am going to a half-day course on Sunday titled Coastal Community Resilience offered by the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center. One of the library volunteers was planning to go and asked me if I might be interested in attending. It sounds interesting so I registered. I have to be honest, however. I find it difficult to say no to invitations. I am trying hard to get involved with the community and making friends/acquaintances is a part of that. I really do want to be able to eventually say "yes, I belong here."

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Tai Chi anyone? The ladies I volunteer with at the library asked me if I wanted to join their Tai Chi class this morning. My efforts were laughable. I was always moving the wrong foot etc. and was unable to follow along. Not at all graceful or fluid. I will continue to attend and muddle my way through but I am going to start looking into perhaps attending a beginner level class through the Honolulu Parks and Recreation. Or minimally find a YouTube video for Tai Chi beginners.

I am really enjoying The Night Manager series. It's an excellent production.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

I am embarrassing myself right now by waiting for my phone to charge before leaving for my morning walk so that I can track my time and distance on the Nike app I use. Ironic when you consider Nike's slogan is "Just Do It."

I spent time with Arlene yesterday. She is here from Seattle visiting her sister. We went to the Waikiki Aquarium which I found very interesting and watching the fish and other critters would have been totally relaxing if I hadn't received two phone calls. One was to schedule a mammogram and the second was Michael in a panic because his driver's license was missing from his wallet. As it turned out I was guilty as charged. It took me a few minutes of meditating as I watched fish swim back and forth in a display to remember that I had taken his license to make a copy of it so he could register to vote by mail. His license was still on the printer/copier in my room. Big oops and I felt really badly about causing Michael to panic.

On Sunday, I went to see the Captain America movie and then had dinner with Ellen and her friend Kris. It was nice change in pace just hanging out with the girls. Ellen returned to Arizona yesterday. BTW, I realized how out of touch I am with the series of Marvel movies over the past few years.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Friday the 13th - plan to stay away from ladders, mirrors and black cats today. Knock on wood...

Not a lot going on this week other than visiting with Ellen who is in Honolulu for end of the semester meetings and graduation activities at the University of Hawaii. She shared what is going on with her family, particularly her youngest sister. She had a health scare a few months ago that turned out to be anxiety related and she is now living with one of her sons in Salt Lake City. Ellen seems to be struggling emotionally with what has happened - it's never easy to see someone you love in a crisis situation. There are also all the issues with decisions about long term care, which my family is all too familiar with as we tried to assist our parents who wanted nothing more than to be able to stay in their home despite failing mental and physical health.

The other big area of interest this week seems to be family DNA results and family trees. Ellen has put a lot of effort into researching her family's past and has even created a blog with stories about some of her more interesting ancestors. I've spoken to Butch as well and he seems to have found out quite a bit of information using some of the paperwork dad left behind and the Internet to research areas in both Michigan and Ohio in which family once lived. It is pretty interesting and makes me wish sometimes that time travel was possible. It's ironic that most of us don't become interested in our family's ancestry until we are older and the people we could have asked for information and more importantly stories about the family are deceased. All the more reason, I suppose for those that are currently interested to document what we can confirm.

Monday, May 9, 2016

I have tried not to second guess decisions Michael and I made regarding the timing of the move to Hawaii. I was aware of the financial hit we would be taking by me leaving my job before qualifying for Medicare in September 2015. But it is sobering to realize that me continuing to work an additional eight months would have saved us about $25,000 in medical premiums and IRA savings withdrawals. And this is not taking into account my earnings from working. What's done is done and I probably would make the same decision again to be with Michael but it is hard not to think about the financial benefits continuing to work would have provided. Life is full of decisions though and there will always be trade-offs.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Mother's Day for me has always been more about my mother, not me. I miss her everyday.

Both Sean and Celina called me today to wish me a happy Mother's Day. It was nice talking to them. It was gratifying to hear about their very busy lives. Sean is trying to complete projects and he and Rose are heading to the Toronto Comic Arts Festival next week. Following the Toronto event, he has the BroBot release party the last week of May and the Ann Arbor Arts Festival in mid-June. Celina is busy with school and her on-campus job. She may also have an internship at the college this summer if funding happens. I am keeping my fingers crossed for her. All good news.

After a Mother's Day breakfast at McDonalds (always a guilty pleasure), I spent some time working on the planting bed (by the mailbox) in the front yard. I believe it looks pretty good but only time will tell. And I constantly remind myself that if a plant doesn't work out in a particular place it can always be moved. An allegory on life...

Friday, May 6, 2016

Travel gets complicated when there are multiple people involved with different personalities, sleep habits, food preferences, activity preferences, and the list goes on. Add on the financial end of travel and it's a wonder we ever go anywhere. This of course applies to hosting guests as well. And so I would like to apologize in advance to family in both Chicago and Ann Arbor for any inconvenience Michael and I cause in anticipation of our visit in September. I bring this up in anticipation of my brother visiting Michael and me in Hawaii sometime this year because I feel some responsibility for the outcome. I get that we are all adults and are responsible for ourselves but... I guess I was really lucky when family was visiting here at Christmas because I never really felt a lot of pressure to plan anything -everything just seemed to evolve on it's own and people seemed to feel comfortable doing their own thing.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Happy Cinco de Mayo... a day celebrated in the USA by anyone looking for an excuse to drink Coronas and tequila all day. Keeping in mind that everyone is suddenly Irish on St. Patrick's Day for a similar reason.

I had a nice chat with Kathy this morning. I find I always feel better after connecting with one of my siblings even though the main topic of conversation is often related to our latest health issues. She is in Michigan visiting family. An added bonus for me is that Kathy has promised to pass on any good family gossip she picks up on. She, April, Butch, Donna, Tricia, and Elizabeth are meeting at On the Border tonight for dinner. I suspect they will have a long wait because of today's "holiday" (plus the restaurant is advertising several Cinco de Mayo appetizers and drink deals). But it sounds fun. I am thinking I should stop at the store today and pick up a bag of tortilla chips - chips, salsa and a margarita for dinner tonight sounds good. Ole!

Bonus post - I got a call from Butch today as well. We were talking about how odd it is that Ancestry didn't list either him or Dad as a match to me. Who's my daddy?

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

I was out on my walk a few days ago with a couple I often walk with. They stopped to chat with a neighbor and he commented that there sure were a lot of dogs in the valley but then he added, "But den the valley get plenty Filipinos too." And everyone chuckled but I have to admit I didn't get why it was funny. I guess I need to ask Michael.

I received my DNA results today from Ancestry. The results show that I am 99% European (64% Great Britain, 13% Iberian Peninsula, 12% Ireland). I was a little surprised not to see France listed given my grandmother's maiden name on my father's side is Amyotte but I guess the Iberian Peninsula is pretty close to southern France. (me shrugging) I just ordered another kit so Michael can get his DNA tested as well. It seems like his should be a bit more interesting because of his Asian/Caucasian mix.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Michael had a follow-up doctor's appointment this morning to check that the statin medication the doctor prescribed two months ago is making a difference in his cholesterol levels. His lab results were all within the normal range so you would think all is good but Michael is pretty certain the joint pain he has been experiencing is related to the statin medication he is taking. While he did mention his joint pain to the doctor, he did not express his concerns about the connection of his pain to the medication. I am kind of wishing he had as I am curious about what her response would have been.

Kali has been waking me up consistently at about 4 am every morning and I am starting to feel the impact. I am ready for a nap at about 3pm in the afternoon. I try to fall back asleep after Kali wakes me up but she is relentless about wanting to lick my face and have me pet her. I finally give up at about 6am and get up. I am trying to figure out a way to break her morning routine and have considered just getting up but I really don't want to be up that early. Ah, the joys of having a cat as part of the family. Meow...

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Lazy, lazy first day of May. And just a reminder that:

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, Garlands of flowers everywhere, All the colors in the rainbow, Maidens with blossoms in their hair, Flowers that mean we should be happy, Throwing aside a load of care, Oh, May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, May Day is happy days out there...

Saturday, April 30, 2016

We understand the world by how we retrieve memories, re-order information into stories to justify how we feel. (Stephen Elliott, The Adderall Diaries) I just watched the movie adaptation of The Adderall Diaries. I wouldn't rank it as a great movie but it did make me think about how we really can't rely on our memories to be factual because we are constantly editing our past. For example, I believe many of my memories of Dad revolve around my perceptions of his mistreatment of both Mom and my siblings when we were growing up. I suspect from Dad's perspective, he would say that he was doing what he felt was best for us. And the paradox is that he was clearly viewed as an intelligent and giving man by the community. And I saw that in him as well with his family - his actions did not always match his words or demeanor but he was often generous financially when he perceived one of his children or grandchildren in need. I am rambling but I believe it comes down to us perhaps not remembering exactly what someone said or did but remembering how they made us feel.

Friday, April 29, 2016

I finally made some progress raking leaves today but am well aware that I could put in the same amount of time and effort tomorrow and still have more to do. I spoke to a couple I occasionally walk with in the mornings and they are going to give me some croton cuttings to root. I am thinking that crotons might be a simple solution for the area next to the driveway (thinking cost efficiency and simplicity).

Donna has been on my mind a lot this week. A biopsy was done after a recent mammogram and precancerous cells were found in the tissue. I am not sure what this means for her but she has an appointment with the surgeon on Monday so hopefully she will know more then. My heart goes out to her - it has to be hell being in limbo.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Michael and I went to Target today and we now have so many canned goods it looks like we are stocking up for the Armageddon. We are ready for the big one unless the can opener disappears. I looked at the calendar and our last trip to Target was three weeks ago. I am thinking maybe we should limit ourselves to once a month due to a lack of space.

I have been trying to get psyched about doing housework for three days now. Minimally both the floors and the bathroom need cleaning. I am usually more anal about cleaning so I am not sure why I am dragging my feet. I must be getting lazier in my old age although I suspect it's more a case of just not feeling any urgency.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

The security guard at the library told me I looked pretty today and while it was creepy I have to admit on some level I felt flattered. It just goes to show how human I am.

I ended up not connecting with Margo yesterday, which is okay. When I spoke to her by phone the other day, I found it interesting how much concern she expressed about Bern's health. She also spoke fondly about her memories of going to the Big Island with him years ago and how grateful she was to have been able to go out on the lava fields. I mention this because I recall their break-up as being pretty contentious. It's nice to know that time really puts things in perspective.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

I spent part of the day yesterday potting plants and am happy to report that the plant to pot ratio worked out and I used all three of the containers that Michael drilled drainage holes in. I also spent time both yesterday and today prepping Leslie's mini ipus - all 118 of them. On Friday, Leslie dropped off the plates she made with the plumeria design to match the bowls she gave me earlier. Very cheerful and tropical. Our simple breakfast this morning looked pretty fancy.

Margo, one of Bern's girlfriends (mid to late1980's?) called me yesterday. She and her husband have been at the Turtle Bay Resort on the north side of Oahu this past week. They will be leaving to return to Ann Arbor tomorrow night. She was calling to see if there is a possibility of us meeting somewhere tomorrow before their flight. I told her to call me when they have a better idea of what their plans are. I am hoping we are able to connect face to face if only to say hello.

I have been getting a lot of cat kisses from Kali - she really seems to like just hanging out with us when we are in the house. A good sign that she feels this is her home too.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Michael and I went to Gecko Comics in Kaimuki today to pick up a couple copies of the first issue in the latest series of Aloha, Hawaiian Dick. Sean did the cover art and it's hard not to feel proud of him. It's always a good feeling when you can walk into a business and find something a friend or loved one created especially when it's your son. It makes me smile...

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Heard at Queen's Beach today, "that lifeguard is hot." It was Michael referring to the female lifeguard on duty. At one point she paddled out to check on someone and Michael had his binoculars following her every move. I think he might have been having a "she could save me anytime" moment. Pretty funny. I should have taken a photo of her in action. Just another beautiful relaxing day in Hawaii...

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

So many decisions lately - I finally committed to dates and made reservations for travel to the mainland in September. Michael and I will be flying into Chicago to see Sean and Rose but also plan to visit family and friends in Michigan. Reminder to self that I need to change the date of my September doctor's appointment.

It was a nice beach day today. Michael said he saw some good sized ulua when he was swimming at Queens. I belatedly regret not getting out of my beach chair to take a look but was feeling lazy.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

The new drill bit was used to drill three holes today. Woohoo!

Monday, April 18, 2016

I went to TIAA's office today to discuss setting up scheduled distributions from my retirement account. I made a decision and started the paperwork but it's hard not to second guess decisions - especially when they impact your future income. The next stop is the bank to change the distribution amount on my IRA. I am trying to get my proverbial ducks in a row in preparation for starting social security payments in September.

Michael and I also went to Home Depot to look at plants. I wanted to purchase a diamond drill bit to make water drainage holes in ceramic pots. I'm a little excited about being able to do so because it opens up opportunities to make just about any ceramic container into a planter. I also purchased a pakalana vine but I am unsure where to put it. One of our neighbors has pakalana growing on her fence and I absolutely love the smell of the flowers when I am walking by. (Not to be confused with pakalolo.)

Sunday, April 17, 2016

We finally got some much needed rain today. I spent the day in the kitchen making banana bread - two regular loaves with pecans and two chocolate loaves with walnuts and chocolate chips. It's the first time I tried the chocolate banana bread recipe and it is a keeper - the loaves are delicious. So I now have a freezer full of Costco purchases and banana bread. The biggest disadvantage though of being in the kitchen for hours (I also prepared dinner) is that I have a tendency to nibble on everything as I cook. Not a good thing...

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Despite trying for an early start when it's a little cooler, I worked up a sweat this morning weeding and picking up leaves and other yard debris. I get why people move into condos but I do have to say I really enjoy sitting on the lanai gazing at our little corner of paradise.

I try not to specifically identify relatives when I have something negative to say but I am guessing this one will be pretty easy to guess. I've noticed lately that one of my nephew's FB postings are really disrespectful toward women. He has been using some terminology that I suspect he finds humorous but it's actually offensive. His sister at one point tried to point this out to him and my brother (his dad) commented that he should listen to his sister but he continues to make offensive remarks. If Sean started making similar remarks on social media, I would personally get on a plane to Chicago to smack him (recognizing that Rose would have already put him in his place). Just my two cents...

Friday, April 15, 2016

I am taking a break from yard work. I was starting to feel a little light headed from the heat so came in the house to hydrate and am now sitting under the overhead fan to cool off. It is working. I am thinking I may do something else though that involves sitting in the shade.

The Feldenkrais class I went to yesterday was pretty relaxing and it's an activity I'd consider doing on a regular basis if it were closer to home. The classes are at a fitness center in the Ward Warehouse area and I would really prefer something located somewhere between Kahala and Hawaii Kai. There is a YMCA in Kahala that offers fitness classes (membership is $50/mo with a 12 mo commitment) but I worry that like many people that join fitness clubs I will be paying a fee and not using the facility. Particularly because Michael is not interested in joining (ironically it's a paid benefit of his health plan). Sigh...

I get a kick out of Rose's treadmill tweets - she announces a topic and tweets about it while she is on the treadmill. It's usually related to food - like her top five pizza places or her top five comfort foods. While I am not planning something similar, I thought this morning when I was out for my walk of my top five wishes related to walking in the neighborhood. They are as follows:

1. I wish dog owners would clean up the dog poop on the sidewalk. It's gross.

2. I wish drivers would stop at pedestrian crosswalks so I can safely cross the street. It's the law!

3. I wish school kids wouldn't hog the sidewalks forcing me to walk in the street. It's rude.

4. I wish dog owners wouldn't let their dogs run off leash. It's scary sometimes.

5. I wish there was a public bathroom at the Niu Shopping Center. It only happened once but one time I ended up peeing behind a church because I really had to go.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Funky weather day - trades with occasional wind gusts and a little on and off rain. We went to the beach for a few hours and every once and a while it actually felt a little chilly.

I was watering the front yard this afternoon and someone I hadn't seen for about 35 years was driving by, saw me in the yard, and stopped to say hello. He used to live across the street from us. I have to admit that I didn't recognize him but it was nice of him to stop to chat.

I am going to a Feldenkrais class tomorrow morning with one of the other volunteers from the library. Feldenkrais aims to improve people's quality of movement and the woman I am going with mentioned that the classes have helped her with some pain issues she was having so I thought it might be worth giving it a try.

And as an aside... I can see Michael's iPad Pro screen from where I am sitting and so far he has looked at surfboards and guitars on-line. I wonder if he is planning a purchase.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Speak of the devil, our Hawaii state tax payment cleared our checking account. All is well in the cosmos.

Monday, April 11, 2016

I am freaking out a little. I sent in my Hawaii state tax return about three weeks ago and the payment check I attached hasn't cleared my checking account yet. So either the state tax processing center is super inefficient or it's "lost in the mail." I am hoping it is the former.

Lately, I find myself curious about family going-ons. I rely on emails, texts, and social media postings for information. Interestingly, of everyone in my family, Shannon is the only person I have an inkling about because she posts daily updates/photos about Joel and her recovery from injuries (yes, plural). But more importantly she also occasionally provides some insight to what is going on in her mind, which I really appreciate. I believe it's hard sometimes to share feelings. And I know from experience people sometimes misconstrue comments made so I am generally (but not always) pretty careful about what I blog. There have been times when something occurs and I am tempted to comment but do not say anything because of fears of hurting someone's feelings or later discovering I had it all wrong. Life across the ocean...

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Leslie came by on Thursday to drop off a set of four bowls she made for me, plates to come. I love them. The plumeria design is fun and very cheerful looking. She also dropped off about 150 small clay ipus for me to prep for her to paint. Prep involves using a razor blade to trim off the seam line from the mold and then using a damp sponge to smooth the surface. All I can say is that Leslie is a very trusting soul. Hoping I don't break them.

I was feeling a bit industrious today. I made breakfast, cleaned the bathroom, swept the floors, washed the kitchen mat, cleaned the front lanai, picked up tree branches, prepped about 80 ipus for Leslie, and made dinner. Busy, busy, busy. I also successfully finished the Sunday crossword puzzle. And now Kali and I are relaxing in my office. I'm watching TV and she is doing cat stuff.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

I found an even better photo of the Asian squat. I wonder if Sean can still do it. He sure was a cute baby. Just saying...

And a not so great topic. Occasionally I see dead rats on the sidewalk when I am out on my morning walks around the neighborhood. Normally the only place I see them is by the culverts that run through the valley to prevent flooding but this one was on the sidewalk in front of our neighbor's house. It was beheaded so I am guessing it had an encounter with a cat. While I am not surprised, it's kind of creepy to know there are rats living close to the house. I've also seen rats at Kawaikui Park near the mouth of an underground fresh water stream that empties into the ocean.

Butch sent out a family email today regarding our parent's estate. He just filed the 2015 tax return. Unfortunately one more return will need to be filed next year but bringing closure to the estate is getting closer. Another chapter in our lives ending...

Friday, April 8, 2016

My latest obsession is the Asian squat and the fact that I cannot do it and Michael can (and I might add with no effort involved). The Asian squat is when you squat with both fee flat on the ground. Your weight is being supported by the heels of your feet and supposedly this is a comfortable position. I am determined to somehow master this position without toppling over and/or crying out in pain. I think my problem may be that my archilles tendons are too tight or it could simply be that I am not Asian. I may be able to work on the tight tendons issue but if it's an Asian thing I am screwed. Michael and I did make it to Target on Wednesday for our retail therapy and to pick up the few items I had carefully listed on a scrap of paper. $186 later, we left the store.

My dentist appointment went well yesterday. I wasn't too keen though on the apparatus that the dentist put in my mouth to keep it dry while he glued in the inlay. I really had to fight against feeling like I was going to gag. I am not sure how it worked but it was an air filled plastic thingy that I think might have been blowing air in my mouth while the dentist worked. It was just weird and uncomfortable.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Windy, rainy weather started yesterday afternoon. I woke up this morning to find a large branch on the front lawn and one of the trellises blown over. I decided to take a break from walking this morning because the wind is still really brisk but find myself having regrets for not just getting out there. It's not like I can't still go out to walk but like Michael always says, I feel like I missed my window of opportunity. In other words, I am making excuses. Although in Michael's case, there is truth to the "missing the window" concept because he is usually referring to surfing where a shift in wind makes a big difference in the surf.

Yesterday's dentist appointment was rescheduled to tomorrow at 10:00am because the porcelain onlay I am having replaced did not get delivered to the dentist office as expected. I noticed a little gap between the tooth and gum line on another tooth so I suppose I should ask the dentist to fill that in as well. I am hoping he has time to do it at the appointment tomorrow so I don't have to make another appointment.

Kali is pestering me even earlier in the morning and I am wishing I could think of a way to put a stop to it that is not punitive. Her need to sit on me wouldn't be too awful if it did not involve face licking. I find myself in really uncomfortable positions trying to cover my face and not only am I losing sleep, I am also sore when I finally get up. I woke up this morning with a sore neck and shoulder.

I am hoping to go to Target today to pick up a few household items and walk around in a retail stupor.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Lazy Sunday - I read the newspaper, did not finish the crossword puzzle yet, but did rent Mockingjay - Part 2 and I have to say I really liked it a lot. I rather wish I had gone to a weekday matinee by myself when it was in the theaters to see it on a big screen.(Michael seemed to have zero interest in the Hunger Game series.) Mmm, I wonder what other movies I've missed. I guess it is a good thing that the gang that was here at Christmas time didn't mind going to Star Wars The Force Awakens even though most had already seen it. Admittedly, however, Michael and I normally rent movies on demand on Saturday nights and I've enjoyed quite a few really good ones including Brooklyn last night and Carol last week.

Michael is making dinner tonight so I am sitting on the front patio enjoying the breeze. I saw a beautifully colored green gecko with orange spots crawling up the table leg a few minutes ago. It caught my eye as most of the outside geckos I see are brown or tan.

Today would have been Mom's and Dad's 68th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe they are both gone. I feel like I should have gone out for Chinese food tonight in their honor. Maybe next year...

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Friday, April 1, 2016

Michael and I visited one of his paintings that is on display in Hawaii's state capital building today. There is an annual event called Art at the Capital where the public can view artwork by local artists that's been placed in the offices of legislators. Michael's piece has been there for awhile and was purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in the mid 1970s. It's always a thrill to see his work on display in a public venue.

Afterwards we headed to Murphy's Bar and Grill for dinner and drinks. I enjoyed the corn beef and cabbage (it is an Irish Pub after all). And I do have to say is the Long Island I ordered was really smooth. I wish I knew what the secret is as the concoctions Michael and I have attempted at home don't taste quite the same.

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Shanty chic... what the neighbor called Michael's building style. I think it's a compliment. :)

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

After a few days of the wind coming from the south, the trades are back and I am enjoying the breeze through the sliding glass doors in our living room (or is that the overhead fan?). We went to Queen's today and the surf must have been good in front of Diamond Head (Cliffs?) as parking was non-existent on Diamond Head Road. Which reminds me, there was a grass fire on the Monserrat Avenue side of Diamond Head yesterday. Rain has been negligible since the beginning of the year so conditions are really dry right now. Fortunately it sounds like firefighters were able to get it under control fairly quickly.

I've been thinking about a post Shannon made on FB about fathers and parenting. I started to reflect on what it was like growing up in my family. About the only time I can remember Dad caring for us without Mom in the picture is when she was in the hospital recuperating from childbirth (back in the olden days when hospitals actually kept new moms for a few days). I am sure he must have fed us but I can only remember him making a one pot meal of sauerkraut and sausage one night. I never really thought he was a good role model for us kids and I imagine he impacted how my brothers view women and later related to their spouses and children. I want to be wrong but I can't help but believe that all of my brothers, for example, view themselves as more intelligent than their sisters and wives. Just saying...

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Happy Easter and if you don't celebrate Easter, be happy anyway. It's a beautiful day in Hawaii. I am chilling on the front lanai and just finished the Sunday crossword puzzle and caught up on social media. Dinner is in the crockpot - I had some leftover beef in the freezer and it is now simmering in chicken broth and wine with some potatoes and a sprig of rosemary from our container garden. I plan to oven roast potatoes, broccoli, and carrots with garlic and rosemary. I also took a loaf of banana bread out of the freezer so we plan to have quite a feast this evening.

2nd post - Dinner turned out great. Michael and I sat outside and enjoyed our feast. And it looks like we may be enjoying it for a few more days as there are a lot of leftovers. Roast beef sandwich anyone?

Saturday, March 26, 2016

I exceeded the 3,000 mile mark this morning using the Nike app on my phone. It's hard to fathom sometimes how the miles have added up but I hope to walk many, many more. I voted for Hillary in the Democratic primary today but I'd say the crowd I was standing in line with were predominately Bernie supporters. I see he won in both Alaska and Washington today and I am fine with his wins because I will happily vote for him if he ends up the Democratic candidate.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

I took my baby toe out for another spin around the neighborhood this morning and we both survived. Michael and I ended up going to the Sports Authority and a very nice person in their shoe department recommended I try a larger size so I have more toe space. I took her advice and bought a size seven for my normally size six feet. We shall see how it goes tomorrow morning.

Leslie came by after work yesterday and we went out for Chinese food. It was a very relaxing evening and it was nice catching up with her.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

I put a bandaid on my toe and pulled out a pair of old stretched out shoes and ventured out on a walk this morning. I was able to get four miles in before calling it quits. So sorry, I know I should treat you better baby toe...

Something interesting happened yesterday at the library. After my volunteering shift, the librarian in charge (not sure what her title is) mentioned they had a full-time opening for a library assistant and asked if I might be interested in applying. I am more open to working part-time, not full-time but after some thought I realized my hesitation about applying is more about losing the ability to take time off when I want to travel or when family is visiting. I guess I really need to get more info on the position so I can make an informed decision about applying. The funny thing is that this is something I would have jumped at a year ago. This life is leisure is growing on me. Of course, whose to say I'd even get the job.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

I abandoned my walk this morning after just one loop around the block because of concerns that my already raw toe didn't need more abuse and needed a chance to heal. The gel little toe sleeve didn't seem to make much difference in toe comfort or protection. I am cautiously optimistic that I will be able to resume walking tomorrow morning. Maybe I'll try walking a few more loops around the block in flip flops just to get some activity in. And there is always yard work...

For some reason I have been thinking about one of my nephews who has been posting articles daily on FB that he finds on the Internet about depression and anxiety. This is after a car accident involving his mother and boyfriend that occurred last spring. I must admit feeling skeptical that he is using his mental state (real or not) to not only elicit sympathy but also as an excuse to not be a grown-up and take responsibility for himself. I've had my own demons in the past including a period of depression that left me crying a lot but I continued to work and take care of my family. If he read my blog though I suspect his response would be that I just don't understand and maybe I don't and for that I am sorry.

Monday, March 21, 2016

My left baby toe is not happy and when my toe is unhappy, so am I. I decided to put a bandaid on my blistery toe this morning before my walk and happily for the first couple of miles everything seemed to be okay. Then somewhere around mile three I started feeling some discomfort. Any sane person would have probably headed home but I kept on going until I reached 6.5 miles as my poor toe screamed out in pain. It isn't pretty. I am going to clean and drain it and try again tomorrow morning but this time I'll be wearing a Gel Little Toe Sleeve I purchased at Longs that claims to be uniquely designed for the little toe and helps to protect from pressure, friction, and rubbing. And a note to my left shoe, please respond to my efforts to stretch you out in the little toe area. Thank goodness, my normal footwear is slippahs.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Kali and I are hanging out in my office. She seems pretty content to just sit by me while I type, which is kind of nice as I like having the company. It gives me an excuse to say things out loud and not give the appearance that I am talking to myself.

And a little update on my new walking shoes. After just a few days, I have a blister on my left baby toe that until I drained it yesterday was about half the size of my toe. I am trying to decide if walking tomorrow morning will be pushing fate. I am thinking about putting a bandaid on it, ignoring the pain, and hoping for the best. Maybe I should wear my old shoes until it heals? But my new shoes are the shoes I will be wearing from now on so I am not sure that makes sense. Good plan? Bad plan? Is this how diabetics lose their toes?

I am planning to make beef broccoli for dinner tonight. I bought broccoli at Costco a few days ago and have been looking at broccoli recipes to prepare this week as we have copious amounts to consume. Last night I made a broccoli, tomato, and onion cold salad, which I thought added a nice balance to our dinner of burgers and potato salad. And there are always the old standbys like roasted veggies and stir fry but I am also considering blanching and freezing what I don't use tonight so we can enjoy it later without worrying about it going bad.

For some reason I thought today was Easter but I guess it's next Sunday. Spring break for Hawaii public schools started on Wednesday and I mistakenly assumed the timing had something to do with Good Friday being this week.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Two long islands later...

Thursday, March 17, 2016

When Irish eyes are smiling... Happy St. Patrick's Day! I just had a flashback to Ann Arbor and eating a corn beef sandwich at Casey's. In a booth drinking a long island, of course.

My doctor's appointment this morning was as expected and non-eventful. Labs all looked good. With mango season coming, the doctor prescribed prednisone for me to have on hand just in case. I also need to go in and get a pneumonia vaccine. My dentist appointment was okay - I was there for about one and a half hours and have a temporary cap until the porcelain onlay is made. I return in two and a half weeks to have it put in. I was told not to eat until my mouth is no longer numb and it is past my normal dinner time so I am feeling hungry. It is tempting to go ahead and eat something and hope I don't bite my tongue or the inside of my mouth.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Hey, I put some new shoes on, And suddenly everything is right, I said, hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling,

I bought new shoes today and ended up with some relatively inexpensive rather plain Sketchers after not being able to find the more expensive and flashier Nikes I was coveting in a size 6. I took them out for a spin this afternoon and they seem fairly comfortable. Let's see how long it takes me to wear them out. ;)

My doctor's appointment is tomorrow morning. My blood test results posted to My Chart yesterday and there were no surprises. I was relieved to see my a1c at 6 - I am hoping though to eventually reduce it to >6. Baby steps... Now if my blood pressure cooperates all should be well but you never know what the doctor may detect (the heart valve issue she found last year, for example, was a big surprise).

I unfortunately also have a dentist appointment tomorrow - it's for a porcelain onlay so I will be giving my charge card a good workout. The estimate is $1223 with my cost after insurance around $800. All I can say is my mouth is like a money pit.

The brisk winds have returned and are expected to last for a few days. I actually wore jeans and a jacket when we went to the mall today. With slippahs of course.

Happy π Day (03.1416)

Monday, March 14, 2016

These boots (shoes) are made for walking, and thats just what they'll do... It looks like I've been beating the pavement pretty hard as all the tread is worn off the balls of my shoes. The result is that my feet have been feeling sore after only a few miles on my daily morning treks due to the lack of cushioning. Padding really helps! I bought these shoes about a year ago and I am guessing they have about a thousand miles on them. It's way past time to replace them. I guess I'll be shoe shopping this week...

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind. The winds finally subsided yesterday and I spent a short time in the yard today picking up small tree limbs and twigs and breaking them down for the "green" bin. I also added soil to the bromeliads I planted under the kukui nut tree. Some of them are looking straggly but I am hoping it's mostly because they were transplanted from another location and will eventually adjust and flourish.

Sometimes I find myself feeling a little sorry that Kali is not allowed outside. Michael and I were sitting on our back patio this afternoon and I looked up to find her staring at us through the window. But I recognize that letting her out is not a risk I am willing to take, especially with the busy streets that run by our house.

Michael and I went grocery shopping this morning - I bought lots of veggies and am looking forward to a nice salad and warm garlic bread with the spaghetti that I am planning to make for tonight's dinner. We ate out more than normal this past week and had a series of not so great dining experiences. Last Sunday the wait person at Lung Fung's misunderstood our order and we ended up with fried rice and crispy gau gee without the noodles and veggies. The breakfast sandwiches we ordered midweek at BK were just okay. We didn't care for the taste of the teri burgers from the concession stand at Friday night's baseball game. And last night, we stopped at ChaChaCha's for a quick bite on the way home from Wanda's party and the tacos and margaritas left an unpleasant aftertaste. Whine, whine whine....

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd, buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks, I don't care if I never get back. Michael and I went to see the University of Hawaii/Michigan baseball game last night on the UH campus. It was a nice change from our usual Friday night dinner date and I must admit it was fun to see a maize and blue team. Michigan won but I found myself rooting for whoever was at bat and would have been just as happy with a Hawaii win.

Today, Michael and I went to Wanda's 90th birthday party in Kailua. Her son Greg and his wife and daughter flew here from Portland so she had all three of her children here. It was a nice party and it was good to see her surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and other family (like Michael). A fair number of her friends were also in attendance. A nice tribute to a grand old dame...

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Just a little pin prick, there'll be no more aaaah, but you may feel a little sick... I successfully had my lab work done this morning and I suspect the results will reflect all my bad eating habits. I can't seem to resist my attraction to salty crunchy snacks like chips and popcorn. And I will never pass up a chance to eat a doughnut, danish, or just out of the oven roll. Just the thought of that warm sweet yeasty dough makes me salivate even as my inner voice keeps repeating, "just say no, just say no, just say no..."

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

The answer my friend is blowing' in the wind... We have been experiencing really strong winds the past few days. A few of my potted plants are so bent over that I expect that I will have some repositioning or repotting to do once the wind subsides. As the wind whistled through the gaps between the louvered windows, both Michael and I bundled up in our sweatshirts when the temps dropped into the low sixties both last night and early this morning. There are a lot of tree branches, twigs, and leaves all over the yard so we have some work ahead of us. Our biggest problem is that the two "green" carts we have are always filled to the brim and with pickup only happening every two weeks, we have piles of yard debris just waiting for an empty bin. Oh, the hardships of living in Hawaii.

By the way, Michael is still loving his newly paved area and lots of neighbors have dropped by to comment on on how much nicer the yard is looking.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

I fasted over night and then sat patiently in the diagnostic lab waiting room early this morning for my turn only to be told that the doctor never submitted the requisition for my blood work. #wasteoftime #hungry #frustrated

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Michael is pretty excited about his new driveway and has been working all day to tidy up the area. He has visions of ferns lining the pathway by the back patio and a trellis with bougainvillea on the other side. Busy, busy, busy...

In contrast, I am finding myself feeling a bit out of sorts today - no energy and a slight headache. I am catching up on laundry and a few other household chores but it's an effort. I usually look forward to doing the Sunday crossword puzzle but even that was a bit forced. I am hoping to feel more energized tomorrow.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

The cement was poured today and we now have a short wall and a driveway. It's already an improvement and I believe that once we add some landscaping and put in the pathway next to the house it will look really nice. Maybe even fantastic. :)

Friday, March 4, 2016

Work is progressing on the driveway and the cement is being delivered tomorrow. It looks like rather than completely digging up the old driveway, they may be paving over it. But hey, what do I know.

One of ladies that walks at the same time as me mornings gave me several small fish this morning for Michael's pond plus a few cuttings for my growing succulent collection. I continue to feel a bit humbled by the kindness and generosity of our neighbors, many of whom I have met on my early morning walks. The bounty has included limes, lemons, oranges, avocados, starfruit, and Japanese eggplant, plants, and now fish. And looking back, I always felt grateful to have had Karol as a neighbor in Ann Arbor.

Michael and I decided to do something different for dinner tonight and went to Chuck's in Waikiki. We had a nice dinner and then did some window shopping. We talked about maybe going into Waikiki on a more regular basis and trying out some other restaurants like Duke's, La Cicaracha, Arancino's, and a few others we walked by tonight that looked interesting.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

One worker showed up this morning and started digging a trench by hand on the edge of the driveway for the short wall Michael is having put in. I felt sort of guilty seeing him working so hard but then I remembered the poor guy working out in the hot sun for 3-4 days digging an eight foot deep trench by hand when we replaced the sewer pipe last year. Sili is having the concrete for the driveway delivered on Saturday so by next week we may have a paved area for the car. Michael plans to put in a puka paver pathway between the house and the driveway. When it is finally all done, it should look pretty nice.

We went to Target and Wendy's today and I must admit it was quite the treat. I haven't been to a Wendy's in over a year. And I really enjoyed my spicy chicken combo.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

It's not my story to tell but Michael is not happy with the results from his doctor's appointment this morning. Nothing all that surprising but I am sympathetic because he works so hard to maintain his fitness. My appointment is coming up in two weeks.

I worked at the library today for close to five hours. I sorted the returned juvenile books into the various subsets: picture books, fiction, series, etc. and then put them in either alpha or Dewey Decimal order. It's more complicated than I thought. The branch manager would like me to takeover the "withdrawn" books starting next week. And I made $9.50 in sales in the two hours I worked for the Friends of the Library selling $.25-$1.00 books and DVDs. Woo hoo...

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Butch called me this morning about a man that had come to his door earlier asking if I lived there. Butch told him no and he left but it's hard not to be curious. Maybe I am getting sued and the guy was a process server.

And then a guy came by the house here today to ask if we wanted to get our driveway paved. He's supposed to return Monday with a proposal. He seemed like a trustworthy guy but now all of a sudden I find myself thinking what if this is one of those old people scams. I guess it's justifiable paranoia but it does make you question the times we live in. If he asks for the money up front, I will freak. Sigh...

Whoever Kali lived with before must have used a spray bottle when she was doing something they didn't like. I got the windex out to clean some glass and she quickly exited the room. Ironically given how skittish she is, she will tolerate vacuum cleaner noise.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Today was my first day of volunteering at the library. I have committed to a few hours of shelving books on Tuesdays, followed by a few hours cashiering for the Friends of the Library (they have a small section in the library with donated books that can be purchased for $1-2). Today I shelved adult fiction books - they are filed by the author's last name so pretty easy. I am hoping that I do not have to sort the returned books into the numerous categories until I get more familiar with what they are because it looks pretty complicated. :)

I ordered size large capri pants online from Kohl's and they turned out to be too big. The bummer is that I have to pay shipping charges to return them and then shipping charges again to reorder a smaller size. Kohl's, open a store here please.

We went to Waimanalo Beach yesterday but ended up leaving after an hour because it was a little chilly due to wind off the ocean. On the way home we stopped at Sandy beach and watched the waves for awhile. Not just beautiful but pretty awesome as well.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

In addition to it being my brother Bern's birthday today, it is also the one year anniversary of my dad's death. It's hard to believe it's only been a year - it sometimes feels like it was a lifetime ago but at the same time I am aware that my grief and regrets are still just below the surface of my consciousness. I think it's why I dream about him. I want to remember him for the good things he did but it's hard to forget the years of verbal and mental bullying he inflicted on his immediate family - especially Mom. But I digress - on this day a year ago I received a phone call from Butch letting me know that Dad had died. When I saw on caller ID that it was Butch, I knew why he was calling but it was still one of those moments that you don't forget. I was trying out a recipe for an artichoke cheese spread and suddenly the next few hours were spent looking on-line for flights to Detroit. Do I miss Dad? I do but not in the same way I miss Mom. I can't help but think though that in part moving 5,000 miles away just weeks before he died impacted how I felt. I had said my goodbyes and had already reconciled with myself that I would never see him alive again. That physical and mental distancing helped. A little...

Saturday, February 20, 2016

I tried to make up for some of my laziness yesterday by walking six miles this morning and working out in the yard for a few hours. I filled three bags with leaves and could have easily filled three more. Unfortunately an avocado seed that I planted that had developed into the beginnings of a tree (it was about 10-12 inched tall) looks like the blight hit. The leaves have shriveled up. I am not sure if it is insect related or what but it is a bit disappointing. Tomorrow I plan to plant the red ti plants I bought at a garage sale last month. They didn't have very developed roots when I got them and I put them in pots hoping to give them some "nursery" time before putting them in the ground. I also did laundry today and changed the linens.

After not hearing anything for three weeks, someone from the Friends of the Library called today about my application to volunteer. I am meeting with her on Tuesday afternoon to look at what times are available on the schedule. Given the bank is right next door, I may stop there as well to take care of the tax withholding on my IRA distributions.

We went to CPK for dinner last night and Michael ordered the ribeye. It was prepared quite well (according to Michael) and came with fingerling potatoes and an arugula salad. Also kudos on the eye pleasing food presentation. And we both enjoyed our tasty drinks. Shame on you, Outback...

Friday, February 19, 2016

Lazy day today. I didn't even walk this morning which I must admit regretting. I did some house work but mostly spent a lot of time reading a novel on the front patio. I find I am looking forward to going out for our Friday night dinner in a few hours.

I nervously electronically filed our federal and Michigan state taxes last night. I am pretty confident that our federal return is correct but found having to file as part-time residents in two states complicated what should have been a straight forward task. I have to mail in our Hawaii state tax forms as we have taxes due. A reminder that I need to go to the bank next week to request they add Hawaii state tax withholding on my IRA distributions so we don't get penalized for under paying when we file next year.

The quite brisk trade winds we have been experiencing most of the week seem to have finally subsided. I've been collecting quite a few small branches and twigs from the front lawn and it's hard not to worry about a large branch from the mango tree falling on the roof in the middle of the night when you can hear the wind whistling through the window louvres. Michael actually admitted that hearing the wind at night made him feel anxious.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

The sale of my parent's house was finalized today. Times like this are always bittersweet moments. Letting go of a place that my parents and most of my siblings called home for so many years is difficult. And coupled with the recent loss of both of my parents, I can't help but feel a bit wistful.

This was the first house we lived in that my parents actually owned. Up to that point, we lived in military housing or rentals and there was never a sense of ownership because we knew these temporary living arrangements were just that - temporary. I didn't live in the house on Lennane very long but it was still "home" and full of memories because it was where my siblings grew up and my parents grew old. A family home is a treasure trove of shared and solitary memories, an integral part of our past. In my mind, I will forever see my mother sitting on the front porch and my father sitting at his desk in the dining/living area. I'll always remember the flowers my mother planted by the front porch and the garden my father planted in the back yard. And memories of that house, my parents, and siblings will creep into my mind for the rest of my life. I like to think that home is not just a place, it is a feeling.

"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not hearts." Oliver Wendell Holmes

Monday, February 15, 2016

I went to Macy's today to shop for Capri pants and ended up coming home empty handed as I couldn't find what I wanted in both my size and desired color. But at least I now know what size to get if I decide to order pants on line. Michael and I also gave Times a try today and decided that we will stick with Foodland. I wasn't wowed at all by their store layout, prices, or service. And Foodland is a lot more conveniently located.

We spent a quiet Valentine's Day at home yesterday. Michael made me a nice card, which will be added to my ever growing and much appreciated collection of cards that he has made for me over the years.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

I look in the mirror and after nearly a year of walking 25-30 miles a week I see a difference in my body that is not reflected when I step on the scale. And it is a positive change, especially when I take into account that I am aging and gravity has taken its toll. I haven't been a young woman for a long, long time. And I guess this is my vanity speaking but I am relieved that I opted to have the hernia repair done the summer before I moved.

I just watched the season opener for How to Get Away with Murder and realized that as much as I like the show's characters, I am only marginally clear on the story line. I think I need a Cliff Notes version to fill me in on the many twists and turns to the plot. I suspect part of my problem is that I am typically doing something else when I watch TV so if a show's content is complicated I lose out.

Michael cut out most of the banana plant that had the bunch of bananas last month. I guess after the plant has fruit, it dies. But it sends off shoots for new plants to keep the cycle going. We have two other plants that have hands on them now so later this spring we should have more bananas. We also have two small papaya plants (at least I think that is what they are) that we need to plant. With the mangoes, we almost have enough variety to make a fruit salad. Now all we need is a lime tree for those gin and tonics.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Happy Birthday to my best friend and husband Michael. We spent a few hours at the beach earlier today and then headed to Buzz's in Lanikai for dinner. All in all a very pleasant day. This getting old with him has turned out to be pretty darn nice. I am glad that after nearly 48 years of being together we still like to hang out with each other.

I heard from Butch today and the closing for the sale of my parent's house is on Tuesday. We are one step closer to getting their estate finalized, which will be a relief - especially for Butch who has been taking care of all the details.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Happy Birthday to my brother Butch. Hopefully his work obligations won't prevent him from celebrating.

Yesterday Michael and I checked out an art show at the Honolulu Museum of Art School that Sean had sent us a notice about. Afterwards we went to a nearby McDonalds and I did something that is unprecedented for me. I offered a homeless person in the parking lot money to buy lunch. He was very well spoken and declined my offer. He told me that he was okay and that I should give my money to someone that really needed it. For some reason I found this encounter humbling.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

A homeless guy that Michael and I always saw when we went to Queen's Beach disappeared a few months ago. He lived at one of the picnic tables and we wondered what happened to him. This touching letter was posted on a tree by his old location.

Rans Arruda was one of my best friends. For years, my wife and I would stop by a bench at Kapiolani Park to say “hello” and drop off a bundle of cans and bottles for recycling.

Rans was homeless and during the day lived near the beach in Kapiolani Park. He was of medium height, balding, on the thin side, and part-Hawaiian. Lean and well-tanned, he never wore a shirt. When he wasn’t scavenging trashcans for bottles, you could find him repairing his surfboard, and heading out to catch a wave.

No one knew for sure where Rans spent the night. When asked, he would just motion in the direction of Diamond Head. He told us he had a sleeping bag. He never complained about sleeping out-of-doors, even on the coldest and rainiest nights. Nor did he complain about the scrapes and cuts that he acquired in the course of his labor – after all, collecting hundreds of bottles a day was difficult, dirty work.

Rans never said too much. He was sociable, but he didn’t have time for small talk – he was too busy at his work. Once he collected several hundred aluminum and plastic containers in a large black trash bag, he would balance the load on the handlebars of his bicycle and head off up Kapahulu Avenue to the recycling place to cash them in for a nickel apiece. We figured Rans probably recycled more bottles and cans than any individual in the history of Hawaii.

Recycling was how he made his living. He refused to take any public monies, even when I offered to help him with the paperwork. I believe he was too proud to accept public assistance. We understood from the recyclers, that he could make $35 a day. Sometimes his friends would bring him food, but this was only a special treat. He was entirely self-sufficient. And like many homeless, if we had offered him a room in our home, I’m sure he would have refused.

Why would Rans want to move to a shelter? He lived in one of the most beautiful spots on earth, and was only steps away from enjoying his passion – surfing.

Because he was very much on the quiet side even his closest friends didn’t know much about Rans. What we did know is this: “Rans” was short for “Ranford” – a fancy name for such a down-to-earth guy. He had a brother named “Yale” who wasn’t homeless. He was a graduate of Kaimuki High School. And he worked for a company that painted homes in military housing projects. He started living in the park after he lost his job.

Ran’s greatest contribution to the world, besides recycling thousands and thousands of containers, might have been bringing people together. His bench became a gathering place for all sorts of folks, rich and poor, local and overseas. Our group would often sit there talking story, or grilling hot dogs, while Rans worked silently nearby, stomping on bottles and cans, or fixing the latest ding in his board.

Since we were out of state for three months, we were eager to visit the park to see Rans. But his bench was empty – no one around. This was impossible! His bike, his trash bag… something should have been there! But not one. Then we heard that he had passed away.

Rans might have been homeless, but he had a productive life. And he was a good friend. We will miss him greatly.

Richard 1/31/16

Saturday, February 6, 2016

I had another one of my scary dreams early this morning and apparently I do have some control over how these dreams progress because I did have my cell phone with me but I was in an industrial area by water and even with the location clearly on the phone, I was unable to determine how to tell someone where to find me. Plus a menacing guy was following me. It was a relief to wake up. And by the way, thanks Butch for deserting me in the big icy field I was in earlier. Also my now awake me needs to tell the sleeping me that when I am having one of these dreams that I need to stop wandering once I am somewhere safe because in this latest dream I entered what looked like a school full of children at an assembly - why didn't I stop there? Oy...

Last night Michael and I decided to stop at the Outback in Hawaii Kai for dinner. What a huge disappointment. I ordered a New York Strip and it was only about 3/4 inch thick and was so tough and dried out it wasn't a pleasure to cut into or eat. I could swear that the Outback in Ann Arbor had thicker more tender steaks. This was not helped by how small and weak their Long Islands were. For the money we spent, I'd much rather go somewhere else. We laughed that if Burger King had a bar, we could have done better there.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

I woke up at around 4:00am this morning feeling disoriented after experiencing another episode of my recurring dream of being lost or stranded. In this dream, I was at work (pretty sure it was Internet2) and went on an errand with someone on foot in an old residential area and they disappeared through a cellar door into the basement of an old house (reminds me of the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland). I started to walk back to work but realized I had no idea where I was and didn't know which way to go. I saw a young boy walking into another old dilapidated house and followed him hoping to ask for directions but he too disappeared. And of course the house was like stepping into an Escher painting with stairways that didn't go anywhere. After a few precarious missteps I made my way outside and after wandering aimlessly found myself in a busy bus depot in a very small town. I still had no idea where I was though and I seemed to be struggling with the more conscious me as to whether or not I had my cellphone with me to call for help or money to take the bus. It was like I was asking the awake me if I had my purse and a way to safety. I'd like to believe dreams are our way of coping with what is going in our life but this dream has me a bit stumped. Next time I have this dream though I hope I remember my cell phone and am able to use the GPS to identify my location and call for a ride if needed.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

It was raining this morning and my resolve to grab my umbrella and walk disappeared. But I managed to walk a few miles a little later only to have it start raining again. I guess I should have just grabbed the umbrella earlier and "just did it."

Michael and I were headed to Queen's Beach yesterday morning when it started to drizzle and we ended up doing a little exploring instead. We walked down the path to the beach below Diamond Head (Cliffs) and then drove past Black Point and walked down a few of the right of ways to beaches in the Kahala area. I experienced a bit of wealth envy as I looked at all those beautiful homes along those beautiful beaches. Sigh...

Saturday, January 30, 2015

Our Vietnamese neighbor left some Japanese eggplant and starfruit on our patio a few days ago so I looked up recipes to try. I ended up making eggplant chips but I think because there is a high water content in eggplant, once they were thinly sliced, seasoned, and in the oven for about 45 minutes the slices shriveled up pretty small. But they were tasty. I've settled on a jam recipe for the starfruit which I've done the prep for and will finish tomorrow.

We went to the library this morning and I signed up to be a volunteer. It's funny how life works out sometimes because I can remember thinking when I was younger that I'd like to work in a library someday and here I am. Of course I will be working for free but it seems like a nice environment. From what I can tell the "job" entails shelving books, manning the Friends of the Library book sales (a corner of the library has donated books for sale for $1-$2 dollars), and whatever else they would like me to do. And I even have a library card.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

We spent a quiet day at home today. Michael and I put in most of the plants we purchased the other day and I potted some additional plants while Michael worked on his backyard shed project. I think we both worked up a good sweat.

There has been a lot of vog from the Big Island hanging in the air this week reducing visibility. I realized when we were driving home yesterday on Kalanianaole Hwy. that you couldn't see Koko Head and earlier in the Waikiki area, Barbers Point was not visible. The trades are supposed to return this weekend which should clear up the vog.

The waves on the North Shore were 40-50 feet a few days ago. Unfortunately that kind of surf attracts a lot of crowds and traffic gets backed up but it is something I really would like to see someday. Note to self - add to bucket list.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

I walked past Niu Valley Intermediate School this morning to find several people standing on the sidewalk passing out little bibles to students as they entered the school. It doesn't seem like this should be allowed but maybe it was ok because they weren't technically on school property, they were on the sidewalk. But then what's to stop someone from standing on the sidewalk passing out flyers to kids with a graphic picture of an aborted fetus to protest abortion rights. Really, where do you draw the line?

We went to Home Depot today. Michael got lumber for his back yard construction project. I am waiting for him to put in marble flooring. We also bought more plants. I am still working on the planting bed under the kukui nut tree and bought some small kangaroo paw ferns and a few pots of colorama dracaena to add some color. Michael bought crotons (both red and green) to start a new bed in front of the house. We also looked at fencing with the thought that some day we might like to put up a privacy fence between our house and our neighbor. One possible obstacle is the trees and other plants straddling the property line.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

I continue to search for meaning in my dreams. Sometimes I want to prolong them because I want to know how the story ends. And sometimes I fight to wake up because I am afraid. I dreamt about my dad again and woke up early this morning wondering why as this is the second dream I have had about him recently. I posted a description of the earlier dream on December 11, 2015 and in it the family was gathering as if to celebrate a happy event. In this dream, my dad and I are about to embark on a long journey. We go to the airport and are waiting for our flight. There is an issue with our luggage not being checked through to our destination but I do not know what the outcome was because I woke up. Is this my way of working through my grief at losing him and/or feeling like I should have been there for him when he died?

I sometimes feel like there is something in me all bottled up waiting to spill out and I say this because I've never really cried for my dad since his death in the same way I have cried for my mom. I've teared up and felt overcome at times with emotion but seem to be unable to let it go. I realize that the grief you feel at the loss of loved ones never goes away, you just learn to live with it. And most of the time their deaths are not something I dwell on or even think about but every once and awhile something enters my conscious mind and I tear up briefly or enters my unconscious mind and I dream...

Thursday, January 21, 2016

I just received our property tax bill today - apparently the City and County of Honolulu is still using a Michigan address despite me putting through a change of address on the last two tax bills I've paid. Sigh...

Sean has been promoting his new comic BROBOTS. He was working on it over Christmas when he and Rose were visiting and I can't wait to see the finished product. It looks like a lot of fun. I hope it sells well.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

"Jaywalking is illegal." What I heard from a young man as I was crossing the street about one house away from the intersection. My response, "Hey, thanks for the reminder." I guess I'd better watch myself.

In preparation for filing our taxes this year, I decided to calculate how much Michael and I have spent on medical expenses in 2015. I gasped at the $7,445 price tag for just our medical insurance plan premiums (medical, dental, Medicare Part B). And when you add on the $2,416 in out of pocket costs, I am really missing the health insurance plan and coverage I had while working at Internet2. It is hard to believe this is considered affordable care.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

After running errands this morning, Michael and I went to a beach adjacent to Makapuu so he could go surfing. It was a younger crowd and I joked that I could have been most of the other beachgoers' and surfers' grandmother.

Elizabeth posted a list of her accomplishments since graduating from college nine months ago on Facebook today and I felt really proud of her for putting herself out there and successfully making a go at being independent - not an easy accomplishment in view of today's economy. I give her a lot of credit for being wiling to work in food service not only while she was attending college but afterwards as well. Kudos...

Monday, January 18, 2016

We went to Waimanalo Beach today and I was amazed by the number of cars we saw parked on the sides of the road on the drive there. All the beaches and hiking trails were packed. Apparently in addition to the schools being closed many people were also off of work. I didn't realize Martin Luther King Day was such a big holiday.

So I want to say a few words about cooking odors. Our Vietnamese neighbor's kitchen fan is just feet away from our bedroom windows and they occasionally prepare meals that are very aromatic and garlicky. While I am sure the meals are delicious if you are fond of that kind of food the odor can be very unpleasant and overwhelming when it permeates our house sometimes for hours. I've tried Febreeze to no avail and just end up closing windows and turning on fans. Fortunately they usually only cook these types of meals on weekends and when the trade winds are blowing we get a reprieve. But it does remind me of comments Rose has posted about their downstairs neighbors cooking bacon etc. all day long.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

I am sitting on the front lanai and have to say it is a gorgeous day to be outside. It's sunny and clear with a slight breeze. I decided to take it easy today and read the Sunday paper, worked on the crossword puzzle, read a novel for awhile, and am now catching up on social media postings. I also just polished off a 2.5 oz. can of sour cream Pringles after promising myself I would only eat half the can.Let's just call it lunch, shall we?

I didn't completely abandon house stuff though. I made pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs this morning and cleaned the kitchen. I also decided to clean the oven - it's self cleaning so pretty easy but now the kitchen is really hot (and I am assuming once the oven cools I will have to wipe it out or something). I also took a half hearted stab at cleaning the bathroom.

Yesterday, I raked and bagged the yard debris under the mango tree and ended up with four bags of leaves, twigs, etc. I had to laugh because while Michael and I were out doing yard work, the neighbor from across the street sweetly asked Michael if he would do her a favor. Expecting to be asked to help her move something heavy he said yes only to have her tell him to please clean up the debris in the street by the curb and the storm drain. I can only assume it must have been bugging her.

I received a nice email from Cat today and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed hearing from her. I go through periods of really missing family and I want to call to catch up but always worry that I am catching them at a bad time. And I get that if they are busy they will let me know but in true Mom fashion, I just don't want to be a bother.

Friday, January 15, 2016

It turned out to be a good day to do yard work - the temps are in the high 70's so it's really comfortable. I raked and bagged all the leaves that had accumulated under the plants and the eaves along the side of the house facing Halemaumau St. I also cleaned the lanai of leaves and groomed my latest planting bed under the kukui nut tree. Michael took our new electric mower out for a spin so the yard is looking a bit neater right now. I still need to do leaf clean up under the mango tree but will save that for the weekend. And a big thank you to Butch for using his Amazon Prime to order the new lawn mower. Free shipping, yippee!

The past few nights, Kali has had a visitor come to the window. It's the big tom cat from next door. Kali, of course, can't be dragged away from the window and for a little cat sure can yowl. I am a bit surprised as I am pretty sure the Humane Society said she was spayed. She also managed to get outside today - the back door was open and she made it off the back patio before I caught up with her. I guess we will need to do a better job of keeping the back door closed - something we have been pretty lax about.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

I've spent the day trying to get organized and also catching up on correspondence. Space is at such a premium in my office that I decided to move the DVDs from the bookshelf to an under the bed bin so I can use the bookshelf for other things. I figure that the amount of times I have watched a DVD since being here is pretty minimal so having them on prime real estate doesn't really make sense. I ended up buying "craft project" plastic containers at Costco today for the bookshelf to store "stuff" I use a lot. Tonight, if I have time, I will start organizing the stuff that is currently haphazardly in the closet into the new containers. This should free up a little shelf space in the closet for the paper cutter and scanner. In the end, I guess it's all just a big shuffling game but in my head at least it makes sense.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Michael cut down the bunch of bananas today from the tree. So we have bananas, lots of bananas...

A little Kali Update - she continues to run to hide under our bed if she sees or hears someone coming in her direction. I am not sure but I think she is afraid of being stepped on. It makes me wonder what her old environment was like. She no longer, however, spends her days under the bed. She often lounges on our bed or in my office on the desk chair or bed. And if someone is in the living room, she will hang out with them. And like Willy and Dexter, she likes to hang out in the evenings with me in my office. I like that she is playful - we've bought her a few cat toys and she seems to like chasing some small rubber balls we bought her but her favorite toy turned out to be a ball of yarn that I am continuously rolling up for her. I am looking forward to seeing what she will be like in another six months.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Michael and I went paddle boarding in Maunalua Bay this morning and I am reminded how fortunate we are to have such a beautiful resource so close to the house. It was one of those still calm mornings and watching the reflections of light dancing on the ocean's surface was very peaceful. And at one point, the ocean waters called to me and I dove in.

Michael and I went to see The Danish Girl at the theater yesterday. It's a poignant well-acted movie that hit home for me as it reminded me of the emotional struggles my sister has gone through as she's coped with her partner's transition. (This is me trying to be sensitive about the situation.)

I dropped by the Apple Store after the movie and within ten minutes managed to walk out of the store with a new iPhone 6S. The speed of the transaction makes me question whether Target's inability to complete the sale was an issue with them not AT&T. However, when I set up the phone last night I apparently screwed up somewhere because the apps on my old phone did not transfer to the new phone. It's not a major issue but it will mean more set-up time.

And in a bow to David Bowie -

This is Ground Control to Major Tom. You've really made the grade. And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear. Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare. This is Major Tom to Ground Control, I'm stepping through the door. And I'm floating in a most peculiar way. And the stars look very different today, For here. Am I sitting in a tin can, Far above the world. Planet Earth is blue, And there's nothing I can do.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

I prepared a planting area yesterday for the plants I picked up from the curb in front of a neighbor's house a few days ago. Prep involved a lot of weeding and digging and I was thankful for Advil as my shoulders and arms were pretty sore. I put the plants in the ground today and what a transformation. The area under the kukui nut tree looks so much better. I still need to add additional plants but it is a good start.

I oven roasted veggies (potatoes, asparagus, garlic) and pan-fried pork chops in the cast iron skillet for dinner tonight. I was actually a little surprised at how delicious everything turned out.

Friday, January 8, 2016

I returned to Target in hopes of purchasing a new phone today but the error code from Wednesday's misadventure happened again. My 45 plus minutes on the phone with AT&T apparently did not resolve the issue. I need to go to an AT&T carrier store to purchase a phone or buy it on-line at their website. I have to say though that I hate missing out on the $200 gift card Target was offering. Sigh...

But all is not lost - we went to Waimanalo Bay after Target and the weather couldn't have been more perfect for a day at the beach - light winds and the ocean was relatively calm. We stopped at Kona Brewing on the way home and sat on the deck overlooking the boat harbor for drinks and dinner. A pretty pleasant afternoon all things considered.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

I scored a bunch of plants this morning while out for my walk. I am pretty sure they are from the bromeliad family and I am thinking they might be a good start to an area under the kukui nut tree that we'd like to populate with plants. It took us a long time to get the yard in Michigan looking lush so I am trying to be patient. One advantage in Michigan though was that neighbors, family, and friends were always willing to share their plants. They were especially a great source for all the hostas that filled our yard. I used to love looking at my planting beds and identifying who gave me what.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

I finally decided to buy a new iPhone today because my current phone is being held together by tape and the button to shut it off is no longer operational. Target was offering a $200 gift card with the purchase of an iPhone 6 so I thought why not. Unfortunately the transaction would not go through - it turned out that despite changing our address and phone numbers to Hawaii, AT&T still had us listed in the Great Lakes market area. After an hour on the phone with AT&T (while at Target) I was assured that they had updated our account but I am guessing that the update must not have been instant because I was still unable to complete the transaction at Target. I left the store feeling a little bummed. The mobile guy at Target told me to call him tomorrow and he would check to see if it will go through before we drive all the way back to Kailua. Sigh...

It looks like I need to revise yesterday's post to say that we all at one time or another are guilty of some of the negative traits I mentioned. I'd like to think though that most of us work our way through adversity and do not for example just throw our hands up in the air and say, "I am totally disabled." Hah, I think I just put my foot in my mouth again...

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Just as I finished taking down and putting away Christmas decorations I noticed a lone red ornament on a plant in the banana patch. I guess I'll let it stay there for awhile.

I've been trying to catch up on yard work but Michael is the one that usually push mows or weed whacks the lawn and it's a little harder to rake with the grass/weeds a bit taller. This led to me thinking about buying a small electric mower on-line so taking care of the lawn would be a little easier. Michael and I have discussed purchasing one on and off since I moved here but never acted - I think now is the time.

I found myself thinking this morning about how events shape people's lives. Looking at my family, I've seen how adversity strengthens the resolve of some family members but becomes an excuse or crutch for others. There are those that continue to move forward, those that just talk a good game, those that self righteously whine about everything, and those that are so wrapped up in themselves that they may never open themselves to change and/or move on with their lives. I've made a lot of mistakes over the years but I'd like to think that I've mostly got on with the act of living mindfully. It's been hard and uncomfortable at times and I know first hand that really bad things things happen to good people. Let 2016 be a year in which we persevere...

Monday, January 4, 2016

Today was a "get back to work" day for a lot of people and I thought it appropriate I do the same. Except I don't have a job but I did return to my early morning walking routine and managed to get in 8.5 miles - not a bad way to start a week. Michael and I also spent a few hours at the beach - he's been stuck at home because of his leg infection so I am sure it felt good to get out and enjoy a few hours in the sun.

Sunday, January 3, 2015

A lazy day that should have been spent cleaning the house, putting away Christmas decorations, and raking leaves. My one accomplishment today was spending time with Leslie this morning to show her how to make a calendar for her best friend using iPhoto. I had given her a calendar I made for Christmas and it must have inspired her. Oh, and I also almost completed the Sunday crossword puzzle.

Michael seems to be doing much better - his leg is still swollen in spots but he says it doesn't hurt as much to put pressure on it so I am feeling a bit more optimistic he may not have to return to Urgent Care. Infections are nasty scary things... I can't help but think about how debilitating they were for my parents.

Michael posted his 2015 drawing journal on FB today, which I thought was an impressive collection of sketches and other work (granted I might be a wee bit biased). When I see Michael's or Sean's artwork, I am in awe and wish I was even half as talented. I don't dance, sing, or draw well. And for that matter, I have never even mastered using chopsticks (see New Year's resolutions).