New Years Resolutions....

It is only a few weeks, maybe five, until the new year 2011 will be upon us..

I have been thinking of what I want to change in my life, and besides the obvious, eat healthy, excercise, lose weight, I have a few other things I am hoping to incorporate...
They include: Reading more-, Snorkeling more, and spending more time with family....

The Hawaiian Pineapple Turkey

My friend Jan surprised me with a very cute gift for Thanksgiving....It is both practical, 10 on the cuteness scale, and can be used as a center piece...

Christmas in Two Places.......

It is always a challange to me, to try to figure out how to juggle living in Hawaii and then going back to New York for Christmas.  I need to start getting in the mood for Christmas, before I get to New York, and then ...............there are all my Hawaii Friends, and how can I not acknowledge the Holiday with them...???
Sooooo, my solution ends up trying to do it in both places, which means the day after Thanksgiving is go to the tree farm day, and find our Hawaiian tree... then decorate it, enjoy it for a few weeks before we head to New York, where I do it all over again...only in the cold and snow..much harder. It also means buying gifts, doing cards and seeing friends in both places, Hawaii first and then on to New York...for the second round...I try to remain calm, but the longer I live in Hawaii, the more friends I make, and the more challanging it becomes..

My Son, falling thru the Sky

My son has always had a thing for adrenaline...He likes things that get his stomach to drop out - with the exception of sharks and spiders, which is pretty funny...

For his 24th Birthday- he wanted to Sky dive...they have a place near by where people jump all the time....he invited a friend, who also was game, and the two of them went...It is near the ocean, and mountains..two large objects...to see from the sky and hit, if you make a mistake...

One of the benefits of having my son living with me again, is I get to experience these fun things...

So on his birthday weekend...we went to Pacific Skydiving..and waiting somewhere around 4 hours, so that he could do his jump...

He seemed nervous waiting, and I kept telling him he could change his mind..but he wanted to go for it.  At last, it was his turn to go..he saw a video, and had some one on one instruction, and off they went to board the plane...luckily, they do not allow you to jump alone- he had to jump tandum, which means, attached to someone else..

He seemed to love it, he landed on his feet, when he hit the ground, and with a huge smile on his face...

As a mother, I of course worried, but as I learned long ago, and try to practice, you have to let your children try new things, and under my watchful eye, he did..
I had to of course purchase all the photos they take and the video, and secretly, I am hoping it was his last jump and he got it out of his system..

Unfortunatly, his sister wants to now go, when she comes for a visit...

Missing New York State Fall

Hawaii is great, don't get me wrong..but the downside of October is that Halloween is coming, and there is no apple cider in site. Nor any freshly picked apples- for apple crisp, or apple pie...

It is one of the things that I miss about Central New York- Autumn- Leaves, colors and leaves falling. The wind swishing them around in the streets as you drive by...I have actually been known to drive thru certain neighborhoods, just for when the leaves turn colors on a sunny day.....!

I did manage to fine a genuine Pumpkin Farm here on Oahu though- so I had to tromp through the fields to find a few pumpkins...I was pleased they had ghost pumpkins, the white ones  ...and the standard orange- there were also wagon rides, and roasted corn for sale...

What made it very different was that it was hot.....very hot- as the farm is located in the Ewa plains, so not much rain, and no apparent shade...oh well,  I have my two pumpkins on the table...so this good...
  

The Ladies....

I have such great lady friends in Hawaii...and they are all so very different and add something different to my life...

First, there is Demaris- she is older than me, and looks younger than me. We met at Yoga, and she helped me find the very first place that I started to volunteer at... a Nature Center,  She was there too, and brought me on , not missing a beat.  She is married to a very smart man, who works in the world of construction, not unlike David, and she has two children, like me, both grown. She has embraced living in Hawaii, coming from California, and never wants to leave. She spends her time gardening, exploring the culture of the Island, seeing foreign films and traveling...she talks to her children daily, and I believe, is still very in love with her husband...I believe she loves plants almost as much as people.

Then there is Jan...she is a former teacher, and loves the ocean and beach almost as much as I do. She and her husband Will retired early- and both love to read, and spend time outdoors.
She is a volunteer with the seals, and actually asked me to get involved. She is a true animal lover....and does not have any children, She does have a dog, she loves very much, and he is treated as a member of the family. We often volunteer together with the seals, or at school with the kids, and love our weekly " Beach date". Her passion, besides her dog, is Hula class and all things Hawaiian.

My friend Collette is much younger than me, in fact, she could be my daughter,
She recently got married and then went on to have a baby....I met Collette thru Yoga, as she is the instructor. She lives near by, and I am able to see her often and chat wither her about health issues and alternative medicine, and she lets me play with her baby...who is almost one. We have similar values regarding family ...She has a beautiful yard, to embrace, but what is better, she has a beautiful spirit.

There is my friend Kathy, who is married to a man in construction also..
We met through volunteering with the Homeless. Kathy is a master seamstress and cook...eating at her house is always a treat. Formerly from California, she travels often and has two grown daughters, one that lives near by, and one, on another Island. She loves being a grandmother, and often helps with her two grandchildren. We don't nearly see each other as often as we should.

I have a friend on loan from Alaska- Betty. Her husband works for David....and she has led a very interesting life- coming from living in Alaska, She came here, to Hawaii, when her husband came for work. She is retired from the school district, but has held many jobs in her life- including being a dog groomer. She has learned to make jewelry since living in Hawaii, and loves to be out doors and be active. She is fun, and  and very generous. She has no problem leaving Hawaii some day, she is just on to the next adventure.

I met Vicki, as she was our real estate person...I was looking for a new place to live, and Vicki found it for me. Vicki is pretty and has a very warm and caring presence about her. She has experienced some tragedy in her life, and it has affected her greatly...Vicki lost a young daughter in a senseless way...and the way she honors her memory is to talk about her. She dances the Hula and is very good at it.

There have been a few friends that I have met, that have moved on...
Jan K.  almost like a soul sister to me in my mind- her husband took a new job only a few months after we discovered each other, and she had to return back to California, but we stay close, and still try to see each other.

Siobhan was another young woman, who could be the age of my daughter. She had her first child Noah, and is an amazing mother and friend. She is very pretty and married to a "surfer dude". She is a creative artist and I am lucky enough to have some of her art pieces. She recently moved away to another Island, but we still stay in touch,

Through my volunteering and friendships, I have made other friends...there is Rose, a former life guard,and mother of five..divorcee of many, she is quite a bit older than I, and her Irish personality is a welcome friend when she joins us at  our beach day...she keeps us laughing with her stories...she loves to read, loves the water and loves to cook...always good for interesting conversations...Dana, a southern belle from Atlanta, who I met through volunteering with the seals,...She too, is a great cook, loves to read, and enjoys animals...She is a very hard worker and very good around all sorts of people. Dana will do anything for you...I believe.

There are others, but this is the core group...I love them all.............and I feel so fortunate to have found them.

KAILUA DAY

One of the most beautiful Beaches in the world- it has to be.....................................................

Shoes of the Beach

Scenes at the Grocery Store

One of my favorite stores near by to shop at is the Food land near Sharks Cove-
Recently my favorite dogs were there, in the back of the cute sky blue bronco they travel in...

I just had to stop and pet them, and say hello- I dream of the day when I can have a dog again...

Baby Seal growing up- and curious as ever................

Our local new monk seal pup is now weaned and has been a joy to watch- she is curious and so cute, and often we find her doing things of concern, yet we have no way to really stop her...She seems to be able to easily search out food and other objects to play with in her mouthy- one recently, was a broken piece of glass- my partner Leslie and I were relieved that we did not realize what she had at the time, and once we were home and looking at our photos from the day- we found out just what this little girl had in her mouth....

Selling food from a Truck- and then eating it...

It seems that Hawaii is full of people who sell food out of trucks- and full of people who buy it and eat- me included.  The food can range from Thai, Local, Shrimp, Brazillian, or one of my favorites- steak and Shrimp... There is even a Pizza truck, seen on the North Shore Beach areas...

The food is usually amazingly good...and that almost always have tables and chairs so you can eat it while it is hot- right on site !

The Pirate Ship

They are filming Disney's Pirates of the Carribean ...and currently there is a pirate ship docked here.

Pretty cool and Johhny Depp has been spotted...

The African Tortoise in Hawaii

While taking a scenic drive on the southern shore of Oahu, I spy a large brown tortoise on the side of the road- it is with it's owner- who is taking it for a walk....I was so surprised....I had to stop and talk to the owner about his pretty Tort named Kui.

North Shore Sites

Driving the North Shore of Oahu, the sites are so amazing...

BON Dance and Lantern Lighting

Once every summer we attend the Bon Dance and Lantern Launching. It is held at the Buddist JODO Mission, and you pre order paper lanterns with the names of the deceased members of your family written on them. At Dark, after watching people dance and chant in a foreign language around a tall built tower...we all launch our paper lanterns into the ocean- lit and glowing...It is sweet, to sit on the sand on the beach and watch them glow...

Turtle Beach

I decided to volunteer as a honu guardian......since I live in Hawaii...why not ?

I like talking to the people and educating them about the turtles...sooner or later, I will know who all the indivudual turtles are..one day- four came out of the water, and just climbed on top of each other, like a pyramid..

Snorkeling Day with new Camera

I decided I really wanted to get a new underwater camera- so that I can capture the beauty of the snorkeling that can be done here on Oahu. I am finding out that it takes lots of practice....

Baby Seal is Born..

A new baby monk seal was born on the North Shore. The Species is extremely endangered, so as part of the Response team, I get to help- which is so very important when a new pup is born- the survival of the pup is key to the survival of the species....So far we have had a fish hook caught in it's lip and a pile of ocean debris float into the small pool area that they have been using as their temporary nursery. It has been fun to talk to the public about the seals, and watch the baby grow- watching the interaction between Mother and Pup is so amazing- and all in the wild.

Easter is Coming and Farmers Market

I worked at a booth last Sunday at our Local Farmers Market- I was making newspaper pots with kids, letting them fill them with soil and seeds to take home with them..
I love the Market- all that local produce and friendly people- they were preparing for Easter, so I posed with a bunny...

Kids and Sticks at the Beach

There are few beaches that have drift wood on the beach on Oahu- or at least that I have seen. I went to a beach on the Island Friday, that was covered with them...

What was fascinating to me was how all the kids on the beach were all playing with the drift wood sticks on the sand- in various ways- banging them for noise, sword fighting, digging in the sand, using them like a knife, pounding them like a musical instrument...

Regardless, it is great to be outdoors and seeing kids using their imaginations ...!

Whale Season

One of the greatest shows and joys of living here, are the amazing sea life creatures I see- some, on a pretty regular and up close and personal way- Sea Turtles, Monk Seals and Whales...

I often can see them spout, and sometimes jump or swim on the top of the water- but to capture one leaping out of the water on film, has eluded me- until Friday- when I finally go my first tail shot....!!! I still can not believe I was able to do it...