This island is busy.
As in busy roads, busy people. Not much of the "Aloha Spirit". It seems there are more tourists and military personnel than locals.
There are locals, they just seem a bit more hardened than the ones I know in Kona. There are no "Aloha's" or "Mahalo's". Just hello and thank you.
Maybe they are just a bit more like the mainland - a bit more hardened from all the people coming and going.
Don't get me wrong, I have met nice people. These military guys and gals protecting our country - they are incredible people. I love hearing their stories. I even got to go on base and see bullet holes in a building from when we were attacked. These kids know their history.
To get ANYWHERE, you spend at least 30 minutes in the car. I know that's not a lot to some people, but for me I don't really travel much out of a 20 minute zone, so to spend an hour in the car is upserd for me.
Today, we were at the North Shore (and it is GORGEOUS, by the way), then I drive Todd back to his house. I then leave for canoe club. It's 20 miles. This equals an hour drive.
What am I doing?
I'm driving over an hour to go to canoe? Have I lost my mind?
I get to canoe club. I'm hot. I'm actually kinda whiny - good thing I was alone. Seriously, I even thought of just going to the beach to swim and not going to canoe club.
I waited it out. This group is a bit more serious than my last group. There are also actually people my age in this group. There were teenagers there.
We get in the canoes. We paddle down a "canal" in Waikiki - about two miles. Then you make a turn, and the ocean is there. On Tuesday, we got to that point, then we turned around.
Truth be told, if I had never paddled before, I would have never gone back. It was okay. The people were good, it was actually just another activity I would have participated in.
But, today, we got to keep going.
The next thing I know, we were headed to the "third buoy" from the marina. The double I was on (holding 12 paddlers) made it out first. All other canoe's were to turn around when the first one made it to the third buoy.
I am in the middle of the ocean. You could also see the surfers in Waikiki. That is what the picture books are made of.
Suddenly, my canoe was the first to turn around. On my right was downtown Waikiki - with the sun glimmering off of all the high rise building. Shining so bright with a beautiful reflection.
On the left, the sun was beginning it's descent into the ocean.
Then, as I was paddling harder than I ever have before, to catch a swell. I am then paddling harder. Part of a team to catch that perfect "push" back into the harbor.
Straight ahead is Diamond Back.
Part of something that was more than even me. As I am now a part of pictures all the tourists were taking.
I use to be one of them - watching the outriggers in the sunset. Now, I am on the right side of the camera.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Fendi or Flip Flops?
Designer brands are
not really my thing. They might have
been when I was in about 7th grade – and a couple of times in
between, but never this “over needing urge” to own “Fendi shoes” or a “Gucci
handbag”.
Yes, I like nice things.
Quality things. Things that will
last. Those things don’t always have a “brand
name” on them.
I’m not a shopper.
While in Oahu this week, everyone keeps telling me of the “great
shopping”. “I don’t like to shop”, I
reply. They look at me like I have two
heads. “I know, I know”. I’d rather be DOING something. In fact, ANYTHING, but shopping.
Once upon a time, I did shop. Shopping with my Granny – we would spend all
day. We would go to lunch. We would have
our make-up done. We couldn't go home
until the trunk was full.
Those days were fun.
But even then, it wasn't to buy the “best name brand” – it was
to buy something I would wear, something in style and made well.
To me, that means, a couple of trendy items, a couple of
staples (well made “core” items”) and made a name brand purse or pair of shoes.
Well, maybe not name brand shoes. Maybe
a name brand blouse and comfortable shoes.
I would have worn stylish shoes back in the day. I still wear fun boots in the winters in
Denver – some days. But mainly, I love
my non-name brand flip flops.
My favorite flip flops were from my first summer in
Kona. They were made of recycled tires –
they were supposed to never wear out.
They didn't – the strap broke though.
Then I received two pairs of flip flops last summer. They were “custom” flip flops – there were
words cut out of the bottom. So, when
you walked across the beach, you left a trail.
One pair stamped “Follow” on one shoe “Me” on the other shoe. The other pair? “Aloha” (Hello or welcome or love) and “A Hui
Ho” (until next time)
Today, I was on the North Shore of Oahu watching the turtles
swim. They were HUGE. As in, the two I was near, were the size of as
your cooking range. The head was probably
the size of a football. (Mind you this
was in the open ocean – not a theme park or a “planned excursion”)
After swimming with the turtles for bit, I went back up to
my chair to sit under the tree. A bit
later, it was time to leave.
Where are my shoes?
(This really isn't surprising that I can’t find my shoes, probably also
the reason I think $700 shoes are ridiculous and so are the people whom wear
them).
I was down to the beach to see if I left them near the
turtles.
And as the turtle today swam away with just ONE of my flips
flops; I knew it was going to be okay.
As, the bottom of that flip flop had printed on it “Aloha”, leaving me
the one that was stamped “A hui ho” (until
next time).
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
A different kinda place
The island of Oahu is much different than the Big Island. (Really, the 'Big Island' is Hawaii, but everyone seems to think of Hawaii as all the islands rather than just one) All of them would be "The Hawaiian Islands".
Oahu is an island. Honolulu is a city on the island. The population of the island is almost a million people. Only every branch of the military has a base here and I'm not sure if our service men/women are counted in that population. As many of them don't claim their base as their residency, but "where they are stationed".
This place seems much bigger than the Big Island - but it has nothing to do with the size of the island, but the amount of people. (as I think the Big Island has less than 100,000 people on a space twice as big).
Really, this place is like Los Angeles, only water surrounds all sides, not just one. There are mountains. There is vast foliage and tons of highways. Okay, really, it's the same one, but it's very confusing and busy. (To me, it's like LA)
So I'm talking to this man today while I was in Waikiki - and I said, "If this is your favorite island", you might as well live in LA - as it is easier to get places" He told me about the different hikes I should go on. He told why he has a house here and in LA. And I will, and I keep exploring other places.
The "Aloha Spirit" is different here too. Not as many people speak Hawaiian to you.
I went to Canoe Club tonight. First of all - I had to drive an hour to get to a recreational paddling group. (In Waikiki) and they were really nice. A diverse group, much younger than my other group. Thursday night group (as it's the first Thursday of the month) - is the same, there is a group "dinner", instead of breakfast. They are getting pizza, instead of potluck.
I really am not trying to compare the differences, just point them out.
And, I'm still not sure the man I was talking to today wasn't Jack Nicholson. Maybe. Maybe not. In Kona, it wouldn't have come up whom he was. It didn't come up today either. Other than the bartender said, "Hey, Jack". But our conversation about this place, we never introduced ourselves....... Now that's a bit different.......
Oahu is an island. Honolulu is a city on the island. The population of the island is almost a million people. Only every branch of the military has a base here and I'm not sure if our service men/women are counted in that population. As many of them don't claim their base as their residency, but "where they are stationed".
This place seems much bigger than the Big Island - but it has nothing to do with the size of the island, but the amount of people. (as I think the Big Island has less than 100,000 people on a space twice as big).
Really, this place is like Los Angeles, only water surrounds all sides, not just one. There are mountains. There is vast foliage and tons of highways. Okay, really, it's the same one, but it's very confusing and busy. (To me, it's like LA)
So I'm talking to this man today while I was in Waikiki - and I said, "If this is your favorite island", you might as well live in LA - as it is easier to get places" He told me about the different hikes I should go on. He told why he has a house here and in LA. And I will, and I keep exploring other places.
The "Aloha Spirit" is different here too. Not as many people speak Hawaiian to you.
I went to Canoe Club tonight. First of all - I had to drive an hour to get to a recreational paddling group. (In Waikiki) and they were really nice. A diverse group, much younger than my other group. Thursday night group (as it's the first Thursday of the month) - is the same, there is a group "dinner", instead of breakfast. They are getting pizza, instead of potluck.
I really am not trying to compare the differences, just point them out.
And, I'm still not sure the man I was talking to today wasn't Jack Nicholson. Maybe. Maybe not. In Kona, it wouldn't have come up whom he was. It didn't come up today either. Other than the bartender said, "Hey, Jack". But our conversation about this place, we never introduced ourselves....... Now that's a bit different.......
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Just a scratch
I wasn't even on the island for two hours before I was in the water.
I don't think I was even in the water for 20 minutes, the first time. When I got out, dried off - was having a beer, I looked down and there was dried blood on the top of my right foot.
Hmmm?
Nothing hurt. I wonder what that was from. I wash my foot off. There is a one inch scratch across the top. Not deep at all.
Pele!!!! I told you last year, I understand these are your islands. I'm just here to enjoy them with you.
Thanks for the reminder. May we always know our place in life.
I don't think I was even in the water for 20 minutes, the first time. When I got out, dried off - was having a beer, I looked down and there was dried blood on the top of my right foot.
Hmmm?
Nothing hurt. I wonder what that was from. I wash my foot off. There is a one inch scratch across the top. Not deep at all.
Pele!!!! I told you last year, I understand these are your islands. I'm just here to enjoy them with you.
Thanks for the reminder. May we always know our place in life.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Like I was dying
No, this trip to Hawaii wasn’t planned. At least not well in advanced. It was planned for about two whole weeks. No one knew.
My boys were going to Texas.
My ex-husbands Aunt (whom I somehow got in the divorce) has breast
cancer and is having an operation on Wednesday, but she had a whole group to
help her. That being said, no kids, I work from home, no need to help family
out at the moment……hmmm, what the hell am I going to do????
I’m going to go see a little boy in Hawaii
Only the little boy is 26. I babysat him many, many years
ago. The boys were put in a car to
Texas. Yes, they knew. Then I told the grandparents they were in the
car with. They my dad’s wife told her
sister, and well, we know how his works……
Maybe we need to hop over to the Big Island for a couple of
days…….Maybe.
He has tons of stuff planned; he’s on leave for a week. I’m staying two.
Friday morning, I get on my flight. United.
Direct flight from Denver to Honolulu.
I’m not sure whom is more excited – him or me.
We sit on the runway for over an hour before they even tell
us anything. Apparently, there was
something wrong with the cargo area – they couldn’t get the temperature under
control. There was a dog down
there. We went back to the gate. They fixed it. (The little boy I’m going to see told me to
just put the dog on another plane – Actually, he told me to shoot the dog, but
I wasn’t sure if I could actually write that).
We pushed out from the gate again. They ran all the tests again. We sat on the runway for another hour.
We finally took off.
Only, when you looked at the flight map on the TV, we were
headed North to Wyoming. Hmmm…..
Usually, when you depart Denver, you head West.
Then South. Towards the
Ocean.
Something wasn’t right.
The airplane was hot.
It wouldn’t cool off. We heard a
bang. Then we smelled smoke.
THEN, our flight screen showed our flight time was only 20
minutes. We were landing in Salt Lake
City.
They then shut the tv’s down. They shut the lights off.
We were over the mountains.
It was bumpy. As in big drops. It
took us over 45 minutes to get to Salt Lake City – and this was from the time
they told us we were 15 minutes out of Salt Lake City.
We landed.
The plane was greeted by two fire trucks and another emergency
vehicle. The only saving point was they
let us go to the gate. I figured if it
was really bad, they wouldn’t have let us pull up to the gate. Dammit though, we didn’t get to slide down
the slide!
Heck, I’m not in Hawaii, but I have incredible friends in
Salt Lake City.
Richie came to pick me up.
We stopped and bought me a tooth brush – as, they didn’t give us our
luggage.
Delayed a day.
Changed forever.
There are no more maybes in my life. I’m either in or out. Although, I’ve probably been pretty close to
this way of life for a bit.
Not a good month for 777’s.
Because, when your plane catches on fire at 25,000 feet, and
you actually get to land – and you survive…
THEN, you thrive. (I
first put in “get to thrive”, but there is no “get to” in life. It’s just do” I said this was my year to thrive.)
If you thought I lived my life with reckless abandonment
before, you haven’t seen nothing……. Just
saying…….
Friday, July 25, 2014
Oh, Denver
I tried.
Really, I did. Denver, you are a beautiful city. A magnificent place on this Earth with incredible scenery, perfect weather and wonderful people.
Denver, Colorado is one of the most incredible cities to visit. To live in. To grow up in. We have four seasons. We have a "city". We have any outdoor activity you could possibly want - year around. Pick one. (And by pick one, I mean a sport or a season). You can ski and golf on the same day. (snow or water) What is your poison?
There are no bugs. There is no humidity. And holy hillbilly, pot is even legal. (Although truly, this makes me sad - as Colorado is now known across the WORLD for this - doesn't matter that we have everything else).
I HAVE so TRIED this summer.
Okay, well maybe, I haven't tried that hard. But I pretended really hard that I tried really hard.
Really, I did. Denver, you are a beautiful city. A magnificent place on this Earth with incredible scenery, perfect weather and wonderful people.
Denver, Colorado is one of the most incredible cities to visit. To live in. To grow up in. We have four seasons. We have a "city". We have any outdoor activity you could possibly want - year around. Pick one. (And by pick one, I mean a sport or a season). You can ski and golf on the same day. (snow or water) What is your poison?
There are no bugs. There is no humidity. And holy hillbilly, pot is even legal. (Although truly, this makes me sad - as Colorado is now known across the WORLD for this - doesn't matter that we have everything else).
I HAVE so TRIED this summer.
- Bike rides
- Red Rock Concerts
- Hikes - look at this backdrop? It's beautiful.
- Camping
Just shows you, pretending will never get you there.
I will always love you, but you see, a few years ago, I cheated on you. Not only did I cheat - When I cheated, I fell in love. That's the problem with having an affair - you can't always go back.
I'm sorry. It sounds trite. It might sound pitiful, but I will always love you.
I'm sorry. It sounds trite. It might sound pitiful, but I will always love you.
My love for something else does not diminish what we shared. I will treasure our love always. I'm grateful for the love.
Because, I do truly LOVE you. I'm just not sure how much I like you.
Because, I do truly LOVE you. I'm just not sure how much I like you.
If it's okay, I'd like to be friends. Friends whom understand we can have each other, yet, love other places too.
For now, as we transition into this next stage of our life, I would like to see you more than anyone else, but I think we both know it's time our relationship changes. Please understand. We've been faking it for a while.
For now, as we transition into this next stage of our life, I would like to see you more than anyone else, but I think we both know it's time our relationship changes. Please understand. We've been faking it for a while.
Oh, Denver, as much I love you,
I love another place more.
I love another place more.
As much as I would like to apologize for my actions, I can't. You will always have my heart, but another place came along and stole my soul.
And it's time I pay my soul a visit......
And it's time I pay my soul a visit......
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Want Ads
Remember when there were "want ads" in the newspaper? Where you looked for jobs? Where you MAILED in your resume? Or you called and set an appointment to meet someone? Or you just went in and applied for job?
I'm a recruiter by trade. I tell people all the time: "Less than 1% of people whom have jobs got the position by just applying". Usually, it's a referral. Or a recruiter/headhunter. I don't remember what we did before LinkedIn and Job Boards. I think we ran ads in the newspaper.
Previous to Craigslist, I had never been hired for a job if I applied for it. My first job out of college, I sent resumes and cover letters to the Top 25 hotels in Houston looking for a meeting planning position. One of the HR people called me and I was hired.
When I was hired into the recruiting industry, I had gone and applied at every temporary staffing service in town for temporary work. They hired me to be a temporary in their office. That was over 20 years ago.
My only exception to this rule? My college job.
I was working at McDonald's in high school. My roommate at the time, had a friend come down and stay with us for a weekend. When I told him I was working at McDonald's - he told me I needed to quit. I was better than that. He pulled out the want ads - it was a Sunday and told me to look through it.
Of course, I had no self confidence and the only other job I had was a camp counselor. I found an add for a single dad looking for a baby-sitter for his two kids. He was in school and also needed help with tutoring in Math. I'm actually really good in Math.
They hired me.
The third child was born the next summer - the wedding to the girlfriend was the following fall.
That was 27 years ago. There is not a birthday, a Christmas or any other life changing event that goes by without a call from the family.
The oldest, I've seen her and now her kids for several summers when we used to go to the beach in Texas. The middle child I hear from on occasion. The youngest - well, we call him "my first born". I hear from him all the time.
He was the ring bearer in my wedding. Last year, I got to see him for an afternoon. But tomorrow, he's picking me up at the airport - and I'm staying with him for two weeks.
I'm not sure whom is more excited.
I called his dad today and told him "thank you" for running that ad in the paper all those years ago. The dad replies, "We don't know what we would have done without you." "No" I responded, "I don't know what I would have done without you."
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