now is a quiet time for everyone. to think & reflect on the good things. to be thankful for as little discomfort as was possible & still have "mom" with us. she is resting in the ultimate of comfort now. you can play those slots to your heart's content now mom. and sneak those snicker bars & fit into your skinny jeans!!

I am the princess but you wear the crown.

It's Halloween Day. It has been for over an hour now. Minutes into this day ... mom took her silent leave to be with God. To sleep peacefully without struggle or pain. It took only 1 week from her admission to the hospital for her to relax & not worry about leaving Dad behind. It took but 7 days for her to know that holding on was really just hanging on, and this was the day to let go. Let go of what cannot be. Let go of what should not have been. Let go.
Those who loved her most had their moments with her. It will never have been enough time. Never enough said. Never enough belief that we belong here more than she.
This is not a choice we are allowed to make for her. We are only allowed to accept it. And because of our love for her .... to be safe, & comfortable, & at rest .... we will do that somehow. To know that she is not suffering. To know that she is not worrying. To know that this is the way she would want to go .... will help us to believe it is for the best. Belief that there is some place grander. some place beautiful. someplace that needs her more.
AND I believe that because she chose this day to go .... she will be dressing up as whatever she would want to be forever. Whether that is the stubborn little imp she was from time to time, or the Betty Crocker baker, the jackpot recipient, Queen for a Day, or just sitting in her chair playing dominoes with the love of her life .... she will be the most beautiful at whatever she chooses to be. I love you mom. Sweet dreams.

getting in the spirit (of seeing spirits)

things are getting a little eery around here ....... it might be the recent full moon I suppose.

or maybe it is just a sign from those who have left us but not made it into the next world. Rumor has it that by tomorrow night .... there may even be goblins roaming about. I've been told that if we put a jack-o-lantern or two out on our porch with fire glowing within them ..... it will keep the bad ghosts at bay. I might try that!!

my constant companion .....

sadness has recently taken up residence in our home .... so "my" Monkey has taken up residence anywhere I am. When I'm particularly emotional- it's all I can do to keep her from hanging on me like a calico stole.
I find it amazing (and comforting) that animals often know when you need them most. Sometimes just for a petting session to calm your nerves ... sometimes waging a full fledged spaze attack to get you to laugh at them. Of course, like the other female in this household, she gets tired of being looked at (in this case thru a camera lens) so she eventually shuts down or gets bored. HOWEVER- she doesn't leave!!! I brought her home a binky yesterday. That is- a minky bed.

Within minutes, she was checking it out. Kneading. Licking. Rubbing. I layed it right here on my design table. I thought it might keep her off my craft chair.

no luck

my tropical fall ..... late to the table

I started this layout when we were in Hawaii ... since I love fall so much .... I hate missing a second of it. And ever since we discovered the pumpkin patch in Kula (Maui) last year .... I don't have to! It's beautiful up there where all the rich shades of orange, red & golds are perched against the lush greens of the island. The fact that we also get a luscious array of fruits & veggies there - makes it a must from now on.

I had planned to work on this as soon as I got home, but with life interferring with my social plans ... it has been put off to this point (and this is about as cerative as I am likely to get for a while). SO- cozy up to the warm vibrant colors & bring them into your own home for a "local fall"/

finding my way thru the storm of tears

I have looked over my pictures taken these past few days over & over. Some of them are so touching. Some are so ..... us. My mom has long been the unwilling recipient of our jokes & teasing. Many of the times .... the joke being on us, because she didn't even know we were talking about her!!

She raised a herd of comedians. She, who is almost the worst at telling jokes (2nd only to my sister Lindy). Mom is the shortest person in our immediate family (ok, except for her 3 & 5 yr old great grand kids). That .... along with her skinny chicken legs, her cackle of a laugh, her snoring, her "treasured" freebie stash, her recipes that ALL seem to include nuts, & the way she has been flipping us off for the past few years ...... plenty of joke ammunition, & that's just off the top of my head! But the beauty of all of this is .... mom. She has always taken our teasing in stride. Partly because we were sometimes going over her head .... but mostly because she was out numbered!! We all dread, but laugh about the traits of hers that we have inherited. I can point them out, but I won't speak for the others. I- however, have been rolling my eyes & shaking my head like her for MOST of my adult life! I may even be better than she is at it. This morning, I was trying to decide what I love most about my mom ...... it is the kind of grandma she turned out to be. (or granny as we call her) I loved my own granny so much because of what I shared with her, & the memories that I love most about my childhood- come from her & my grampa Davis .... so I was so happy that she turned out to be that same kind of granny for my own kids. And it is the same gramma that my son told me that he hopes I will be as well. (please, no "granny" label for me). That's quite a legacy as far as I'm concerned. The family kind!!

someone to grow old with ....

I was watching an episode of Brothers & Sisters from my DVR tonight. I'm attracted to the show for many reasons. Shallow reasons like who the actors are or how wine is the answer for everything .... and real reasons like how everybody is in everybody's business & how when it comes right down to it- no matter how much they disagree with each other or nag each other or yell at each other .... I know, from the raw emotion that is tangible in my room & the choke in my throat- it all comes from love. Love, concern, protection, loyalty. Like it is in my own family.
There was a moment in this episode when the mother figure is considering plastc surgery. She wants to feel pretty, she says. She knows that the next romance that comes into her life will never have known her when she was young & vivacious- and that scares her. She already feels old and therefore, doesn't believe she will be growing old with anyone. And I began to cry. Just as I do now thinking about it. Thinking about my mom and dad.
I looked at some old pictures today. Of mom & dad when they first fell in love. When they probably still felt young. And I think about what they have experienced together. How they've grown. How they've changed .... not just physically. How they may have started out in love but now it's much, much more. NOW, they are devoted to each other. And what that means. to them. to me. I ponder over how scary & difficult it must be to lose the other half of you. I know the PC thing is to be your own person & not identify with what you have or who you're with, but honestly .... don't we all do that on some level? And what do you do when the person who adores you most ... is gone? How do you go on when the person who accepted you for who you are is not around to remind you of that on a daily basis? And what to do with those early morning & late night hours when it was just the two of you? Through these swollen & irritated eyes, I peer at what I am typing and I wonder why.... why is the pain necessary? For the person who is dying or the people they are surrounded by. Why? I also wonder how scared mom is. Or if she is. And I wonder if I should be there. Despite my fear. Despite my choices. In our pain are we allowed to be selfish?
.... in finding the poem that my mom once gave me to read upon her death .... it speaks of a better place. of happiness & peace. of joy. and I'm not sure I believe. But I want to.

mom spelled backwards - MOM, upside down- WOW

wow ... and this is one of those times when wow isnt used in an awe inspiring or impressed manner. wow is simply a word of disbelief. a word of dismay. a word that elicits a feeling far different than its upside down version. wow. i utter the word in a whisper. thru tears. eventually with a horseness. i wish it were different. i wish mom wasnt battling that which will take her away from us. but i am thankful that she is comfortable and able to spend time with those who love her .... until .... until shes ready to take her next journey. ilym.

Christmas Xchg

As a lot of the family gathered these past few days- we started talking about Christmas & who has who's name .... with the family growing (still) and trying to keep it manageable- we have drwan names for a long while. It's premise was to have more time to devote to our own family at home .... rather than extending gifts out so far that it was timely & expensive. Keeping that in mind and the fact that a lot of people couldn't remember where they put their "names" .... I thought I would put this out now.

Just so you know .... it's sort of a cardinal rule that I don't talk about Christmas until at least the day after Thanksgiving even thought I am mentally getting my decorating act together. So this wasn't easy!! (LOL)

each in our own way ....

soft words ... holding hands ..... sobs .... remembrances .... hugs ..... silences .... phone calls

internalizing thoughts ..... time alone .... tenderness .... pulling back .... touching ...

each of us here over the past few days have handled our shock & fear & sadness ..... in our own way. Some of us have had more experience with it than others. We may recognize the differences faster or sooner - but it doesn't make any of it easier! Some may physically feel it differently than others. Some are there for support of others. Some need more support. All of us want to wake up and find out it's been a really bad dream. All of us .... want this to be as painless as possible. All of us ..... know that it wouldn't matter which of us this was happening to ... because we would still experience these feelings. There is no magic pill to take the hurt from any of us. The "for better or worse" invades the heart of all of us in some way or another. This is what we sign up for when we are part of a family. The potentiality of where we are now. So however we each cope with mom's prognosis, I'm sure we will also find ways to support each other (& ourselves). The mental & emotional bandaids may be different for each of us ... but we know it is all based on love.

well God musta had quite a belly laugh today .....

someone told me that if you want to make God laugh ... just tell him (her?) "you have a plan". The idea was that you can plan all you want ... but quite often life is what it is. You can "plan", you can prepare, you can do all sorts of things that you think is gonna make all your ducks fall into a row but ... as sure as I am sitting her with tears running down my cheeks- there are going to be things that happen out of the blue that you can NEVER plan for. There will always come a time when you didn't see it coming. If you are lucky .... not too many times in your life. But it will happen to everyone of us. tall, short, rich, poor, republican or dumocrat (no, that's not a typo) .... natural blond or from a bottle .... doesn't matter. If you have a heartbeat, you are gonna get it broken or bruised. And I have found that it doesn't matter if it comes outta left field or right down the middle .... it hurts.

Mom is really sick right now .... and I mean sick. I choose my words carefully because that's the way I choose to see it at this moment. And even in the pain & defeat I am in at this writing, I know it does not compare to what dad is going through. To every coulda, shoulda, woulda I am having, I am sure he has done so twice fold. I am seeing good thoughts & prayers come from every direction and still- I know it will be whatever it will be. Bad things happen to good people, of that I am certain with my own experiences.... and it's happening again right now- where a fragile lady is lying in a hospital bed, fighting to go home.

This picture is us. The real us. The goofy kids that earlier today she was shushing & scolding. (as she tried no to laugh). This is what we had today ... but in a different setting. I love you mom, have some really good dreams tonight.

so much to do, so much done, &still have plenty of time!

WOW- for the first time :o) I have returned home from vacation .... hopping right to getting unpacked & sorted. Taking care of the mail. Shredding all the recycling. Done some gardening. Cleaned the litter boxes. Walked on MY OWN beach. Picked up a few things at the store. Cleared all my email. Visited with the new neighbors. and ....... I don't even have to worry about getting it all done before I go back to work. (cuz I ain't going back!!)
We walked in out front door just after midnight this morning .... having been met & picked up by a wonderful group of friends, & pops!! The Captain & I had a little snack after giving pa half a dozen hugs .... & off to bed they both headed. I was up til about 2:30am .... interested in what changes our castle went thru, snuggling with the kitty kats over & over, putting away a few things. & I was up around 7 & raring to go again!! TONIGHT .... it will be a different story but I gotta say- there is NOTHING like your own pillow & your own bed. If our life here has turned to routine when we are home- then I'll take it, any ole time!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

blogging hiatus ? ...... perhaps

we are MINUTES from boarding our last plane (this trip out) and BEING HOME!! The natives are getting restless at this end of the gates- as MANY of the flights have been delayed getting here or getting out of here & therefore not making space for the ones that do arrive on time. You can tell that the noise level is higher now than when we arrived because of all the changes. HOWEVER .... nothing posted about ours being a problem so far & I am already mentally making lists of what to take care of tomorrow so it might mean a couple non-blogging days to catch up on the homefront. Considering there are many days I over-blog, I don't think it will be missed!!. Woooo hoooo .... homeward bound.

If you order "Easy Rider" on Netflix, I'm going to O'Brienville!!!

I'm warning you RIGHT NOW Captain ... if you put "Easy Rider" on the Netflix list .... consider me g-o-n-e that day .... I will have a date with the O'Briens. (by then we will no longer be in a decorating war) .... make no mistake.... I tolerated being able to hear "Up in Smoke" in the backround while I was vacuuming. I was able to ignore "Final Countdown" when it was playing on our Tv for the 10th time. The earplugs worked for "The Jimi Hendrix Story" but if "Easy Rider" shows up one more time ..... (or "The Shooter" for that matter), it's going to COST YOU MONEY! Cuz the Jules & I will be out window shopping with a nice meal quicker than you can pop that sucker out of the machine. IT'S NOT EVEN funny to mention it. I've seen it. I'm over it. I'm done with it. Yes, it's a cult classic but let's get real..... do you really want to be in a cult?? Let me just suggest that you might want to consider installing a DVD player in the garage & invest in a pair of earphones with a LONG cord! (or finish the floor in the attic & add A/C) ILYC

I keep telling you you're not funny ..... but

....... you know I'm (usually) kidding!


Telling you you're not funny has become a joke between us in itself. Afterall, you think you're funny.
You do make me laugh. You always have.
Are you corny? Yes. Are you silly? Yes.
Are you actually funny?
.....
You betcha!

Aloha Maui

We had breakfast at the beach this morning. The faire was not as yummy (or even healthy) as we have been having almost every day for the past 3 weeks .... but what it lacked in flavor, the view made up for. The Mana Kai was our host for the crab benedict & the ocean was responsible for our backdrop & sound effects.

After breakfast we took a walk out onto the beach- to bid farewell & throw my tuberose lei into the water. Legend has it that if the lei returns to the shore, then I too, shall return. But I have made it a practice that when I gift my flowers to the ocean .... I do not wait to see where it's headed. I know I will return. It is my second home & the place where I found love. I am meant to return ..... again & again.

The water was a deep blue today. It was calm & glassy & as the tide was going out, it had left tidepools teeming with tiny new life. Teeny humuhumunukunukuapua'a less than an inch long & a racoon butterfly fish that was smaller that the nail bed of my thumb. Lots of mini convict tangs, & a half dozen lizard fish. Each little pool had a new variety. It was roughly 9am by this time, & the sun was leaving no question as to it's purpose for the day. The water was warm on our feet, as the shallow waves lapped at our ankles. I wasn't sure if it was inviting me in or just saying one last goodbye for this trip. But in my own way- I said my alohas.

I'm not sad to be leaving. It has been a wonderful vacation and I love it here. But when it's time to go home, then I am ready for that too. I love my home. I love what it is now & what dreams we have for it's future. It's my soul house (if there is such a thing). But better yet is all that awaits us there as well. Friends & family & pets & plants & projects, & chores ..... I'm looking forward to it all. We're not sure what next year has in store, but we are talking about being here one of these trips when the whales are around. No matter what the plan .... it will bring us back to our beautiful Hawaii sooner or later. And I will fall in love with it - again. It is a magical place if you open yourself up to it, and it holds a special place within my heart. a hui hou

life is a walk on the beach

I took a walk on Palauea Beach today (white rock). Alone. Well, alone except for my thoughts. And trust me, there were plenty of them. My thoughts are often plentiful & convoluted. I am rarely thinking of only one thing at a time. IF that were the case .... it would have to be something quite serious and fortunately, that's a rarity. I was in a very thoughtful mood today. That is ... a mood full of thought (as I do hope that the act of being thoughtful is not considered "a mood").

thoughts of the beauty & serenity that surrounded me.

thoughts of how happy I am.

thoughts of going home soon & giving Pa a huge hug (among others)

thoughts

lots & lots of them.

I became keenly aware of the widening smile on my face and with that realization... an extra thump to my heartbeat. And the Captain .... (?) well, he was lingering behind. Stopping to comment on a dog that is splashing excitedly in the waves in search of his frisbie. He's delayed again to chat with a passerby carrying an SUP. A third stop is made in order for him to help a diver emerging from the surf with a tank that appears too heavy for her. And then.... finally, the Captain is alongside me- and my thoughts are of him.

my adoration.

my still growing love for him.

Even as he shares his newly found points of interest with me and I am listening, I am still having thoughts. thoughts of how the memories of our vacation may fade over the next few weeks, but the captain will be coming home with me, and that will be my constant reminder of how loved I feel at this moment. of how happy I am.

And my next thoughts? Well they will continue on .... but maybe a little quieter for a while.

showers in paradise (humidity rules)

We enjoyed a plethera of weather today. we ENJOYED it!! Pineapple juice, sprinkles, showers. We had it all. MOST of it was even while we were on the beach! We evidenced some downpours too. hot, HOT sunshine. tepid warmth. a cool breeze. intense humidity. and what appeared almost like the fog bank we experience daily at home floating on the ocean along Ko'holawe. (oic #1) while looking out our back door and beautiful blue skies looking out the front!! (#2)
very groovey. and since we like to make the best of every situation. we took a drive to further investigate- then returned home with our hunger for something grilled & the Captain hopped to it!

AND you gotta check out what we have as a salad these days .... besides the ole greens ... we add cilantro & papaya & red carrots (the look like candy corn when cubed. how cool (and yummy) is that?!!!!!

P.S pops ..... the Captain is eating tomatoes on his salad now!!!!!!

gifts that keep on giving (more than expected)

It was 6:30am and with the doors wide open the sunrise was casting a soft glow in the room. As the fog began to clear from my head ... I could hear doves cooing in the distance & the occassional cackle from a myna bird. Becoming more alert, I sensed no sound from with the unit, minus the moan escaping as stretched long & hard. Perhaps the Capt was just quieter than usual. Rolling over toward the wall of glass doorways, I smiled .... thinking about my best night's sleep in days, the nearing date of our return home, & how great this trip has been overall. And still - no noise from outside the bedroom. I rose lazily, grabbed my brush from the vanity as I ventured into the living room.
No Captain in site. No shoes. No wonder ...... he's gone to Starbucks. yeh, yeh, yeh .... that's where he is (hopefully)


I go out to the lanai & wipe down the table & chairs in preparation for breakfast, then grab my laptop to keep me company while I wait for the return of my pumpkin spice latte & the captain (not necessarily in order of importance). And to my surprise .... not only was he with coffee in hand, but with a Hawaii Bearista and gift card as well!! BUT, as it turns out... that "gift card that keeps on giving" ended up giving even more than expected when the captain went to register it moments later- only to find that there was one of the same NENE design that was full & unused. hmmm. GUESS WHAT, the captain looked in his travel packet & found it!!! SOOOOOOO ..... "it" gave twice as much as he expected!! HA-HA
What a perfect retirement gift.... to still have a Starbucks available even if I'm not on my way to work!! wooooo hooooo. ILYC

random acts of goodness

Some people are good by nature. In being pronounced "good", you are kind, thoughtful considerate, compassionate.... by nature. Your random thoughts of kindness (which, by any other name, is goodness in true form) is not random at all. It is not premeditated, or placed with what comes back in return. It is just "natural". It's every day. It's in every thought & deed. It's in your genes. Your make-up. Your being.
I have MANY of you in my life. Those who do not keep score. Those of you who think of others before themsleves. Most of you are strong women. The balance being much stronger than they even realize. I have learned or gained something from each of you. I am a better person because of all of you. I love what you bring into my life & the way you have made me part of yours. I am fulfulled in so many ways by way of your experiences, & your wisdom, & your encouragements. I hope.... along the way .... that I have brought something to your plate as well. And if, by nature, I become as strong & beautiful, & good as each of you are to me .... then it is a great accomplishment. I will have made my own mark on the world.

when sleep doesn't come ....

The sandman was here earlier but apparently he ran short of dust or got distracted & has forgotten to return and finish his job here on my side of the bed. There are advantages to lying in the dark, keenly more aware of the sounds around me but after a few minutes, instead of drifting off .... my mind seems to be going through my mental file cabinet. If I was using this time to purge the drawer of things no longer needed, that would be great- but instead, I am pulling out items that are not likely to produce "sleepy thoughts". and so ...... This is a nights rest that I would usually experience the night before travel- so maybe it is because I am ready to go home subconsciously! At any rate, since laying horizontally is not putting me to sleep- perhaps a more physical approach to getting the thoughts out will be the answer. Let's start with my concerns of retirement ..... or more acurately put .... other people's concerns. It would seem there are 2 responses when one finds that I am newly retired. The congratulators & the be-grudgulators (yes, I am aware there is no such word). Those that are happy for me, have a smile on their face & pop up with a comment that is probably what they would imagine to be the best part of being in my situation. The peanut gallery opposite them are smirkful in appearance (another dede'ism I'm sure) and their words ring out in cynicism. Oddly, these are usually people who barely know me.... so they are just talking to hear the sound of their own voice, cuz ain't nobody in my head listenin' to them! If nothing else has stuck with me as I have matured, I can tell you this .... NOBODY rains on my parade!
and maturity ...... I have plenty of it! Sometimes (okay, many times), I have more than enough of it. But then, it's one of those things I am really good at. I've had lots of practice. In fact, I think I have been the most mature individual in most of my relationships. It can be exhausting at times. I have been mature faaaaaaaar longer than necessary or fair. I have been mature since I was about 7 or 8. So sometimes, now, I refuse to be. Sometimes- simply because I am smart enough (&, frankly, mature enough) ..... I know there are times when I don't have to be. Now & then, I am a kid again. Or at least, the kid I should have been. The kid that I wasn't given the time to be, circumstances as they were. I believe it is partially why aquaintences think I look younger than I am. These times that I am free to be "young again" manifest physically. In my maturity, I have learned to let go. let go of taking things personally. let go of needing to be right. let go of needing to have the answers. let go of being the perfect this or the perfect that. let go of fixing things. In retirement, maybe I will need to make sure I let go of some of my let going & get going on a new chapter in my life! ha-ha AND NOW THAT ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN SAID, I believe it would be the mature thing to do .....for me to go back to bed & get some sleep!!

#11 and it seems like only yesterday (ha-ha)

as our evening quiets down into a bit more conversation between the Captain & I .... perhaps some TV, a cup of coffee and a little reading .... I wanted to put together the last of the anniversary mentions on the blog. It was a lot different than we've had in a long while ... but more importantly ..... it reminds us that our Hawaiian vacation is nearing it's close.

HAPPY

ANNIVERSARY

to us!!

in case I forget to tell you later, I had an amazing anniversary ....

YES ..... that is AM you are looking at on the car clock! And we had been up for nearly an hour already. Some days are just not long enough to take it all in. The sand, the ocean, the flowers!

... ... we made our presence known in the sand (& I've no doubt it was taken away by the ocean within minutes), and headed over the rocks to our wedding house.


THIS is an annual event for us on our anniversary .... to take another look at our wedding spot, with the hope that little or nothing has changed. Occassionally, we even witness another wedding taking place (and have been invited to join them after they hear our story). We take a few candid shots & search the sand for some lucky pukas or special shells ...

then we tip toed back so as not to disturb any more than necessary. This year, we went out to breakfast as an additional treat to pamper ourselves. (well that, & the fact that the Captain had a hankering for bacon). With very little prompting, I had an appointment for a pedicure set up & in no time at all .... I had happy feet!!

The Captain could keep his gift to me a secret no longer .... (do you think it was seeing my feet that did it??), so the unveiling came about before lunch!! It just goes to show you that we do not always plan everything.

DO NOTE ..... the crab that got out of it's adorable Denny Wong cage! He was nearly off the dresser before I could hang it from a chain... wow, that was close!! He has blue diamond eyes and somehow managed to grab another with his claw !! Absolutely beautiful. The honeymoon is far from over in our household! Dinner at the beach at sunset .... ahhh

you freckle faced little vixen!

With the sun ever prevalent here on a daily basis ... the carmel in my skin works it's way to the surface. (well ... olive though it be) and my girlish freckles take center stage. The Captain is

particularly fond of them so I don't try to discourage or hide these irish polka dots. I use my sunscreen & my moisturizer & as the red sharpens in my hair & my shoulders bronze- I feel as warm & glowing as I appear. There is a spring in my step & a perpetual smile on my lips. I emit giggles at a moment's notice. I show my arms & legs more, & I wear my favorite shoes as often as possible (which would be none at all) The trinkets of Hawaii are just a little brighter around my neck & wrists. I hear NaLeo playing in my ears for hours of every day and I enjoy the fruits, veggies & fish of the islands. The Captain, my constant companion, is eager to please or help me with any task or adventure I propose, and I reward him by not giving it a thought when he heads to the water for an hour or two at a time with a board or fins in attendance. These are the "good ole days" for us. These are our todays. And, should life & health permit, plenty more of these will be in our tomorrows as well. We are in love, we are in luck, & we are in constant awe of how we spend our time- together or apart ..... in a wonderful state of happiness & love.

smells a little fishy don't you think?

what a grand day we had with our friends, Bill & Veronica!! After a leisurely breakfast, off we headed for the Ocean Center (the Maui Aquarium). We have all been there before, sure, but it had been a couple of years & things change (and sharks grow, & prices rise). It was a warm, sunny day (well- duh ... we are in Hawaii) but with plenty of inside exhibits .... it was comfortable & engaging. I won a date with a whale, I sang a whale song, I got eaten by a whale .... and that was before I picked up the pillow sea star or the sea cucumber. All this and I still ate seafood for lunch!! And as if all this did not add up to a sa-weeeet day .... the Captain & I shared a Hula ice cream sandwich (papaya, coconut, mac nut cookie on one side- choc cherry truffle ice cream in the middle & a keiki choc chip cookie on the 2nd side!!) YUM

Sunrise on Maui

Sunrise doesn't seem to come as early on Maui as it does on the mainland (ha). I was bright-eyed at 5:30 this morning ... like when we first got here 2 weeks ago. I was up before the sun. I could hear the rolling break of the waves, the chirping quail, & the cooing of doves ... and it was still dark. Just me, & nature & the sunrise. It was beautifully serene.
I am still here in the beauty. Only now I hear the Hawaiian Wedding Song playing softly & my opu is happy. The world is slowly waking up around me with a cacophony of sounds. I have devoured the fruit that once lay like a garden on my plate. All that lingers is two bites of my sticky bun that sit in a puddle of sweet goo & the best half of my vanilla macadamia nut latte. and me. Here on the lanai where the air is still cool & the palms are swaying gently to the music. The sun is due to peak over Haleakala any moment, and that will signal that it is time to "really" rise. Rise & get the day started. Til that time .... I will rise Hawaiian style.... which is more my style anyway. By then .... the Captain will have done the dishes, made the bed, & checked the schedule of the tides! What a wonderful hubby.

brain freeze (Hawaiian style)

a hot day at the beach .... somehow cools off when you have a handful of crushed ice! And if you flavor it up with a tropical juice well then ... you've got dessert!! (and something pretty to look at)

Virginia .... I HOPE there is a Santa Claus !!

OMG .... last year, I printed my entire blog to "year book" form and it cost roughly $100. Well worth being able to look back at my first full year of posting thoughts, ravings, kudos, greetings and ... well ... ponderings.

this year, I surpassed the number of postings already & I have 2.5 months to go. At .35 a page .... I am going to break the bank. Hopefully, Santa will bring it to me for Christmas, or my birthday!! AND as I sit (almost) on the heels of project 365 that I will be working on side-by-side with my talented sister LouLou .... I am already looking forward to a GREAT year in print for 2011!!!

fruity is as fruity does ....

HA-HA .... as our frequent jab goes ..." you're a funny guy". And since our jokes or teasing is usually corny stuff, & corn is sweet like fruit .... well you get the connection. The fact of the matter (if there is one at all) is that our consumption of fruit while in the islands is far & away greater than our norm at home. Particularly for the Captain. And if, said fruit, has attributed to our increased level of fruitiness (and sweetness too) since our arrival .... then so be it. As if our regular breadfast of pineapple, papaya, mango & apple bananas haven't been rich enough in vitamins ... (or color) .... this morning it is accompanied by an english muffin with GUAVA jelly in it & my first Starbucks since hitting the islands .... PUMPKIN of course! We have put IHOP to shame.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW!!

HOPE OUR GREETING BRINGS A SMILE TO YOUR FACE. WE'RE THINKING OF YOU TODAY !!

DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOURSELF

WE LOVE YOU XOXO

Lahaina .... the dreaded part 2

OK, so you can see that we landed at Lahaina's Hard Rock Cafe .... and you're wondering why that would be dreaded. And you're right. THAT was not the dreaded part.

the dreaded part was our reason for being there for the 2nd day in a row!! I lost my wallet somewhere in the Whaler's Village Shopping center (or at least we thought that's where). As soon as I realized I no longer had it with me- I called the mgmt offices of the center but they were closed for the day so I could only leave a message. Can you imagine the kind of night I had? This morning, I did speak with someone who told me the wallet was found in the parking lot & turned into security. Security, in turn, took it to the Maui PD. By the time I got to them (physically) .... I was a bundle of nerves!! Low & behold my license, credit card & what I think is the amount of money I likely had in it .... was there!!! All I can say is W-O-W.

Lahaina ... part one

Lahaina ......means walking. Hot weather & walking. And a bit more walking.

If we're lucky (and we were) we will get rewarded with an oceanside table at KIMOS and .... if we leave some room aside the ALWAYS yummy food- a shared piece of Hula Pie!!

We don't usually buy anything (and certainly not without checking prices so we know what's a deal & what's not) .... but I take pictures of things that are interesting .... because I doooooo get ideas of things to make or find at home. The hand painted glassware was plentiful & I got lots of ideas (and I can do it all) The Captain ..... always on the look out for his precious mermaids was not disappointed either. We found a couple that were lovely!