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Dirt. It's what's for dinner.

It's been an OK weekend. Saturday, I wandered around the Hilo Farmers' Market, which I must say was hoppin.' There was one stall with a small display case filled with yummy looking individual pizzas. They also had a sample plate of bread squares, which the proprietor proudly exclaimed as the base for the pizza crust. She insisted I try. I did. "All organic, whole grains, healthy and delicious too," she exclaimed. I took a small bite. It tasted not unlike a combination of dirt and shredded cardboard, but without the flavor. "Hmmmmm..." I said, as politely as I could. I walked away, then tossed the remaining portion to the birds. The pizzas actually looked good. I'm sure they might have actually sold a few if they'd nixed the samples. I did buy two humungous slices of homemade carrot cake for $1.50 each. We ate them for dessert last night. Ono!
After the market, I made my way to Safeway, where I encountered an older Hawaiian man, a kupuna if you will, sitting on a bench just outside Safeway, talking story with whomever would stop to chat. He wore a t-shirt with a picture of Dick Cheney and George W. Bush, arms around each others' shoulders, wearing t-shirts themselves that said, "I'm with stupid." Pretty damn funny. The man proudly opened his vest and puffed out his chest when I stopped to get a better look, smiling a toothy (and somewhat toothless) grin and flashing me a shaka.
Election campaigns are heating up here in Hawaii, as the primary is just around the corner, September 23. The paper's full of mug shots and Q&A spreads providing voters with glimpses of where the candidates stand on various issues. The highway is filled with banners emblazoned with the names of those running, the candidates flanked by gangs of supporters all waving at motorists.
Ron has been busily moving dirt from the big pile - he calls it the mountain - to parts of the property that have dips and holes. It's about all we can do right now. The grass and ground are really too wet to mow.
That's all for now. I'm off to watch the men's final of the US Open. While I should cheer for the American, Andy Roddick, I'm really a fan of Roger Federer. He hits the ball so freakin' hard, yet can still throw in a drop shot, an off pace slice or junk ball at will. Touch and power. You just don't see that much these days. Guess that's why he's number one.
Aloha!

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