We had a tsunami warning this morning here in the islands. An 8.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan prompted the Pacific Tsunami Warning System to sound. We didn't actually hear the sirens, of course, since we are 2500 feet above sea level and a half an hour's drive from the coast. We heard it via the Emergency Alert System on TV. Within a short time, the warning was rescinded as officials realized the diminutive size of the wave, but they still urged caution pending the arrival of some trouble making ripples. There were several high water surges that washed boats up the Hanalei River on Kauai and caused some shoreline and harbor mayhem. Thankfully, nobody was injured. The wave/surge took 2-4 hours to reach Hawaii and about 11 hours to reach the west coast of North America. News reports said that the Crescent City California harbor sustained minor damage. That's really pretty amazing when you think about it. The wave took just 11 hours to cross the entire Pacific. That's faster than it takes to fly from California to Japan via jumbo jet!
It has taken me decades, but I've finally learned a very important lesson: a woman should never weigh herself a) within two days of the start of "the dreaded you-know-what" (aka "the monthly menace") and b) the morning after eating Chinese food or movie popcorn. So I haven't stepped on the scale for days. That said, I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars I'm still receiving regular visits from "the dreaded you-know-what." Some of my contemporaries no longer experience it at all, while others see it disappear for a few months, only to return with a vengeance without warning. It's a very strange time of life. Or should I say, a peri strange time?
The North Kohala District of our island is doing it's best to recover from earthquake damage sustained a few weeks ago. Plenty of people's homes were declared uninhabitable. Ah, but never fear, FEMA's here. Actually, they seem to be doing well by the citizens of Hawaii Island, along with the county, the state and several non-profit organizations. Still, it's a bummer for those whose homes were jostled enough to have them slip off their post and pier foundations. I hate it when that happens.
A new law will take effect tomorrow here in the islands that will prohibit smoking in all public places, including bars and restaurants, and within 20 feet of the entrance to a public place. Even open-air bars are subject to the new law. I'm sure there will be a few hole-in-the wall kine places that will simply ignore the new law. While I do feel for smokers who are, after all, engaging in legal activity, I am grateful that I can now sit and enjoy a beer without having to endure someone's second hand smoke.
When Ron and I began our land clearing expedition, we found a tiny flower pot containing what appeared to be a stick. Ron swore he glimpsed a little green color on the stick. We figured it must have been something worth buying and/or potting at one time, so we stuck said stick into the ground. It grew. It sprouted leaves. Today, it bloomed! A large, yellow hibiscus with a fuchsia center danced lightly on the breeze at the tip of a branch. Beautiful! I'd have a photo here for you to ogle, but this makeshift computer doesn't have a slot for my photo card and I've misplaced the USB cord that fits my camera. But stay tuned. I think I got a pretty good shot of it and will publish it as soon as my technology will allow.
We now have nearly 40 coffee trees planted. They're still pretty tiny, but all thriving. Some of our first trees have grown a good six inches with lots of new leaves. In 3-4 years, they'll be eight feet tall and ready to blossom.
I've seen a few good bumper stickers around lately. One today in the Home Depot parking lot asked, "What would Scooby do?" Another, which I saw awhile ago, read, "Pahoa. We're all here because we're not all there." That's pretty apropos for Pahoa. Whenever I spend time there, I return home feeling remarkably normal, healthy and well adjusted. It is Funkytown, for sure.
Then there was a t-shirt I saw at the gym the other day. It said "Alcohol. Tobacco. Firearms. Who's going to bring the chips?"
It's time to feed the furballs. A hui hou. Aloha!
It has taken me decades, but I've finally learned a very important lesson: a woman should never weigh herself a) within two days of the start of "the dreaded you-know-what" (aka "the monthly menace") and b) the morning after eating Chinese food or movie popcorn. So I haven't stepped on the scale for days. That said, I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars I'm still receiving regular visits from "the dreaded you-know-what." Some of my contemporaries no longer experience it at all, while others see it disappear for a few months, only to return with a vengeance without warning. It's a very strange time of life. Or should I say, a peri strange time?
The North Kohala District of our island is doing it's best to recover from earthquake damage sustained a few weeks ago. Plenty of people's homes were declared uninhabitable. Ah, but never fear, FEMA's here. Actually, they seem to be doing well by the citizens of Hawaii Island, along with the county, the state and several non-profit organizations. Still, it's a bummer for those whose homes were jostled enough to have them slip off their post and pier foundations. I hate it when that happens.
A new law will take effect tomorrow here in the islands that will prohibit smoking in all public places, including bars and restaurants, and within 20 feet of the entrance to a public place. Even open-air bars are subject to the new law. I'm sure there will be a few hole-in-the wall kine places that will simply ignore the new law. While I do feel for smokers who are, after all, engaging in legal activity, I am grateful that I can now sit and enjoy a beer without having to endure someone's second hand smoke.
When Ron and I began our land clearing expedition, we found a tiny flower pot containing what appeared to be a stick. Ron swore he glimpsed a little green color on the stick. We figured it must have been something worth buying and/or potting at one time, so we stuck said stick into the ground. It grew. It sprouted leaves. Today, it bloomed! A large, yellow hibiscus with a fuchsia center danced lightly on the breeze at the tip of a branch. Beautiful! I'd have a photo here for you to ogle, but this makeshift computer doesn't have a slot for my photo card and I've misplaced the USB cord that fits my camera. But stay tuned. I think I got a pretty good shot of it and will publish it as soon as my technology will allow.
We now have nearly 40 coffee trees planted. They're still pretty tiny, but all thriving. Some of our first trees have grown a good six inches with lots of new leaves. In 3-4 years, they'll be eight feet tall and ready to blossom.
I've seen a few good bumper stickers around lately. One today in the Home Depot parking lot asked, "What would Scooby do?" Another, which I saw awhile ago, read, "Pahoa. We're all here because we're not all there." That's pretty apropos for Pahoa. Whenever I spend time there, I return home feeling remarkably normal, healthy and well adjusted. It is Funkytown, for sure.
Then there was a t-shirt I saw at the gym the other day. It said "Alcohol. Tobacco. Firearms. Who's going to bring the chips?"
It's time to feed the furballs. A hui hou. Aloha!
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