Crawford got a haircut the other day. I did my usual hack job on her. Ah, but if anyone can pull off this "look" she can. Cute, huh? She seems pretty pleased with herself.
The rain just keeps on falling. Even the long time Kama'aina are complaining. Long timers, some born and raised on the island, are pining for the sun. Some have said they are ready to move to the mainland. The ground is so soggy it will take days to dry out once the rain finally stops. Needless to say, here has been no landscaping, mowing or planting at our place. No matter. The tractor is in the shop. Mechanics say it's a slight leak in the mower deck hydraulic line. That's why it lowers itself as you drive along.
Flash flood warnings had folks living in low-lying areas of East Hawaii moving to higher ground last week. They put out warning messages here that advise drivers not to proceed through large puddles. "Turn around. Don't drowned," says the ominous voice. If there was only some way to capture all this water and send it to places in the world that need it....
Hawaii has just repealed its infamous gas cap. It will be interesting to see just how much faster gas prices climb now that the restriction has been lifted on wholesale prices. To make all you mainlanders feel better, the price of gas in Hilo this week is $3.51 per gallon.
Despite the highest prices for gas in the nation, drivers here don't seem detered from their daily excursions. The mall parking lot was jammed yesterday, as it is every day, and traffic was heavy dispite the rain and cost of fuel. So people were not only driving, but shopping. That would indicate to me that we have a long way to go before the price of gas is high enough to actually change people's behavior. It just doesn't hurt badly enough yet, I think. Oh sure, a few people have likely switched to mass transit where it's available or have begun to car pool. But not enough people are doing that yet to make a significant impact on prices, what with more than oodles of newly prosperous Chinese and Indians ditching their bicycles and sandals and buying cars (and therefore gas) for the first time. I read recently as that sales of Escalades and Navigators, two of the biggest gas guzzlers made, are UP. Folks who can afford $50,000 for SUVs are apparently unaffected by high gas prices. Meanwhile, the people of Europe are laughing themselves silly, I suppose, over us Americans, whining about $3 per gallon gas when they are paying twice that.
On a positive note, I've discovered an amazing community swimming pool in Hilo. My old pals in Gunnison would drool at the sight. It's the Sparky Kawamoto swim stadium, a full, 50 meterslong, 25 yards wide, complete with platform diving. It's partially covered but not completely enclosed. Those sitting in the bleachers will stay dry, but the center of the roof is open and lets the rain right in. The walls are open, too. Pretty cool. I've been twice and don't think I've actually ever swum (Is that right? Swim, swam, swum?) in a full, olympic competition-sized pool. Fifty meters is a long-ass way. It's great. It even has hot showers and lockers. The stadium is open for lap swimming every day. Best of all is the price; it's FREE.
That's all for today. I'd write more but I'm late in taking my vitamin D suppliments today. With all this rain and cloudiness, I can just feel the rickets setting in.Today, it's vitamin D. Tomorrow, it may be Prozac. Aloha!
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