Hawaii 2025, Day 2

Day 2 was an epic day of achievement. Except for the beach. Our beloved beach has wild surf right now. I think it's too windy for me to get in the water. I want to be safe. I'm kinda disappointed but trying to keep it positive.

We went to Ala Moana, cause what would a trip to Hawaii be if we didn't go to Macy's? Mrguy got a new pair of shorts that fit his slimmer hips. I found a great shade hat that was misfiled in the men's sock section. It is perfect except for a dumb patch on it which I will replace, pronto. 

Mrguy also bought two pair of sunglasses at Sunglass Hut in Macy's. Rick, of Sunglass Hut, was soooo nice. From Fresno, Giants fan. He and mrguy talked about the upcoming season's prospects, as you do. And now mrguy has his first sunglasses ever that have no prescription in them because he doesn't need it. Wild. 

My excitement was the Hoka store, where I could try things on in person. I just sent back a pair of Hokas last week that didn't fit. When they do, it's superduper. At the mall I tried on some Bondi 8s, and they didn't fit even though that's what I'm wearing right now. Ended up buying a pair of Men's Bondi 8s. I learned from the salesguy that some styles in different colors end up fitting differently. That seems darned inconvenient.

All missions accomplished, we trudged toward the parking lot. Went to California Pizza Kitchen (a family first), had lunch, talked about the reasons mrguy hates aspects of the Beach Boys and brought home a pizza for dinner.

We sat on the lanai and watched the stories that happen in the park across the street. The green parakeets who screech and flit between the trees around here. I swear that there used to be green, blue and the occasional pink, but I've only seen green. And there was good dog watching. and two boys trying to take advantage of the still-abundant wind to fly kites. But they were running in the wrong direction. One kid ran the other way and got good purchase, but the other kid wasn't as successful and, frankly, didn't seem to try as hard. I hope he comes back. In the meantime, mrguy and I were talking about him making kites, and our shared memory of the local power company's comic book about kite safety. It was part of a presentation given to children every year in certain grades. Deciding to find one on ebay, I instead came across Hi-Flier kites, and their slogan "Playmates of the Clouds". Eventually I found a bunch of the comic books. The aspects I remember in mine were Smokey the Bear, the story of Ben Franklin, and how you could die if your plane touches a power line. Also Reddy Kilowatt and a cartoon character. It was horizontal in orientation. We think that mrguy's era had a different character than my era. Here's one that I might be remembering. Sorry that the link to it will not last into the future...

Another day in Paradise.

Hawaii 2025, Day 1

Sorry but this is gonna be kinda boring. Our Lyft was mercifully uneventful. On so many other occasions there was drama. Like the taxi driver who accelerated down our steep hill and the taxi ride where I looked down to see I was stepping on the remains of a soft pretzel (with mustard). Or the Airporter driver who was a hoarder and wouldn't pull over to the curb at our house. When we looked in the back of his van it was filled with piles of paperwork and he ranted about Richard Nixon.

Our Lyft was not like that.

We went first class, on miles. Every time I take the cats to the vet and pay with my Hawaiian card I remind myself I'm just that much closer to Hawaii. I did some sewing on the rid and watched German Love is Blind.

We were stumped a bit at first. Our usual lunch stop, La Mariana Sailing Club, is closed on Mondays. Hau Tree was closed for shift change. I really didn't want to walk anywhere, but we did and Barefoot Beach Cafe provided the eats. I like their weird curry rice burger thing. I didn't like the Hawaiian Christmas music. A guy named Sam did not pick up his order. Eventually they started taunting him on the overhead "Sam, your plate is getting warm."

On the way back to the hotel we went shopping for breakfast and took a nap.

For dinner we went to Diamond Head Grill instead. It did not disappoint. Love the 'ahi wasabi shoyu plate. Never disappoints. We usually walk across Kapi'olani Park and then up the hill, but it is really nice to just drive there, which we did.

When we got back to the hotel Mrguy just said "I'm going to rest up and then brush my teeth."

New Year's Journaling Prompt

Day 1

I do not believe in magic—how could I?

I can’t but I did

Saw me in half in a box that’s gaily painted

I will show you how. The lingering warmth of a stranger’s hand, on the last grocery cart available at Christmas, transports

So nutmeg. 

Algorithms are not magic. If by magic you mean Add vaseline to coca cola and just watch

Thumbprints in Roma plastilina. I can smell you through the television during Rudolph

The best story is visible in the background

Through The New Year May Joy Abide

Today was kinda excellent.

Mrguy and I took a trip to the clinic for chemo. We had an excellent visit with the doctor. Like us, he's a bit puzzled by why mrguy feels so great but still has a tumor marker that is rising. Because we're headed to Hawaii on Monday he gave him gentle chemo today and when we return he'll get a bigger blast with Oxaliplatin, which he hasn't had in a while. Also, the doctor mentioned possibly having a laparascopic surgery where the surgeon can look around and see if there is anything that isn't on the scans. Because the scans are showing no cancer. If things look good, mrguy could possibly be a candidate for surgery which was COMPLETELY OUT OF THE QUESTION when we first found out he had cancer.

Super interesting. That said, his tumor markers just came in and they're higher again. I have a feeling that the Oxy will punch it down. And mrguy can definitely withstand some heavier chemo now that he's more robust.

After talking to the doctor I left mrguy to do chemo and I did some shopping at Old Navy. Molto discounto! I bought a pair of jeans, a bunch of tshirts and a leotard for $85. Also it was super chill.

Then to the less scary Walgreens for a replacement lipstick. The color I bought is a little alarming. I wish I could find my original lipstick because it was so beautiful (and inexpensive). Oh well.

Then to the Thai takeout store at Peppermint Tree Plaza for a veggie banh mi and some papaya salad and what I lovingly call "tick pudding" -- a coconut pudding with random unexpected vegetalia within. 

Tiger Brown still smelled like daikon when I came back to her later.

After lunch I checked in with the precious family. Last week, during Rudolph night my oldest grandniece had mentioned that not a day goes by without someone in the family mentioning the ancestral Pink Panther doll. A different family member had claimed it when we were cleaning out my mom's house. Here is the original. Well I just couldn't let their lack of Panther stand, knowing that there were probably dozens on Ebay. It arrived in the mail yesterday and I am happy to say that they were really happy with the replacement.

And with that, dear readers, I wish you a happy new year. As I drove away from the market where I bought my evening's prosecco I heard the announcer on the radio say "...and from us at KXXX Happy New Year. Brace yourselves".