I didn't blog yesterday, didn't workout...just hung out and enjoyed the house here.  Okay, Dean, Donna and I did make a quick trip out to Loews to buy various necessities for the house (light bulbs, umbrella stand, chip clips--somehow our's have all disappeared since November, outdoor rugs, a refrigerator filter and duct tape).  We also stopped by Oceanic Cable to switch out our remote.  Phew!  Lot of work for an Aloha Friday!

Dean immediately put up the umbrella and replaced the filter.  It was rather amusing to watch me run the water through the filter as he asked since the water wouldn't turn off once I got it going.  Of course, as soon as he touched the water dispenser, it worked.  Donna put out the rugs.  And I put the duct tape aside to later repair my golf luggage bag (broken on the trip out).  Future visitors to Hale Honu will be pleased to know that Dean's almost got the remote working on all of the electronics in the living room. 

If you want to check out Hale Honu (at our admittedly out-of-date website...updates are on my to-do list) go to www.halehonu.com

The title of this blog refers to our poker game.  We had a yummy dinner of Costco steaks, asparagus and salad.  Then we settled in to play poker as the sun set.  This necessitated a phone call to Uncle Dan for the rankings of hands as we couldn't agree on which was better, a straight or a flush). 

Dan's response, "You're playing poker and you don't know the rankings?"  And then he gave them to us.

We settled in for what turned into a 3-hour poker game.  I was out first (no surprise there) because I forgot I was playing against Donna's general luck (and skill) and Tim's beginner's luck.  So I became dealer.  Then about half hour later, Dean was out and took over dealing responsibilities.

We played Texas Hold-em (with and without wild cards), Follow the Queen, Five and Seven Card Stud (the hand that did me in was Seven Card Stud with Suicide Kings and One-Eyed Jacks wild).  Every time we played Follow the Queen, which makes the card dealt after the Queen wild, we didn't get any queens.  (Unlike when Uncle Dan is dealing...hmmm.)  So we changed to Follow the Face Card.  The title of today's blog comes from Donna's call of Follow the Face Card with Aces and Deuces wild.  Acey, Deucey, Facey.

The sunset, by the way, was the best yet.  Lots of dolphins yesterday, too.  And Deanna is happy to have Tim here (and I suspect he's happy to be here despite flight "challenges.")

Aloha!

Dean and I were chauffered to the Kona Country Club by Donna this morning.  We golfed while the girls got Diana ready for her flight and to the airport.

I'd like to report that it was a record round for both of us and that pars and birdies abounded.  However.

We did have an excellent time and enjoyed the views, each other's company and the occasional spectacular golf shots immensely.  Dean had a really nice shot where he drew the ball just enough to land perfectly placed for an approach shot.  We both had a couple of pars.  My favorite shot was a 5 wood to the green from the fairway (thanks for the new clubs, Dan!).

I was also happy that I'm at a point in my golf game where I know my game, am comfortable with the fact that I'm an average golfer, and so I don't beat myself up (so badly) over poor shots.  It makes the round much more enjoyable (and not just for me, I bet).  Dean made the point that once he realized he was an average golfer (and that most folks are average golfers) it made him a lot more at ease on the course.

I also am enjoying a new technique taught to me by my friend, Renee' Dobyns.  She is a double-bogey golfer like me.  And before each round, she writes down the adjusted par for each hole...then when she gets a six on a par four, she isn't down on herself...it's what's expected.  When she gets a four, she really celebrates!  I find the technique really keeps me focused on playing my game and not worrying about anyone else's game or judgements.

Of course, it always makes a round more enjoyable when there are fabulous ocean views all around and when you are playing with a brother who is also a good friend.

The rest of the day has been chores and reading...heavy on the reading.  We're about to sit down to a dinner of shish-kabob.  Then Deanna's boyfriend, Tim, will be flying in tonight.  It will be great to have him here with us as we start our second week in Kona.

I'm hoping to get in another round of golf next week.  In the meantime, I am sure I'll get in my other obsession, snorkeling!

I went snorkeling at Kahalu'u with Dean, Deanna and Diana this morning.  I saw two fish I'd not seen before!  They were the
The Lantern Toby Pufferfish (aka Hawaiian Cowfish) and the Female Bird Wrasse.


We also saw a turtle right as we were going out and I spotted a few favorites like Rockmover Wrasse and Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse.  Apparently the Cleaner Wrasse had the day off from the fish spa because they were just hanging out.

This was Diana's first snorkel and she did great.  I stayed out for a bit after first Diana and Dean went in, then Deanna followed.  Such a gentle ocean these days that it's really a breeze to snorkel without worries.

Nice to spot new fishies, too!

Lots of interesting lessons in relativity this trip.  The theme first occurred after my post about travel day "challenges."  My big brother Dale pointed out that it was hard to feel sympathy for me when he was working his @ss off and coming home with headaches over employees with poor work ethics.  (Big offense in our clan...work ethic is supreme for Baldridges and Morefields.)

Then I was saying how sad I was for Dan's commute home from San Luis Obispo and Deanna pointed out that she didn't feel sorry for him since he was driving his (hot) car.

Yesterday, at the spa, my technician let slip that she loves the houses along Alii Drive except for the "huge ones with stucco."  Meaning our house.  All of our guest book entries are full of praise for how beautiful the house is, but to people used to old-style Hawaii, our house isn't beautiful at all.

I've been turning this theme over in my head, especially with reference to how one person's eyesore can be another person's refuge...and I ran across this article in the LA Times: "A Gift of New Beginnings"   about a new housing facility for homeless women and children in LA County. 

There is the same conflict there (with much greater import).  A refuge for women, some of them fleeing abuse, some addiction; a potential danger for neighbors who fear increased crime and (probably more the issue) decreased property values.  I understand both perspectives.  And, as usual, I come down on the side of the less fortunate.

The story is worth a gander.  In me, it inspired awe, gratitude and a renewed dedication to the homeless/at risk to homeless population.  Let me know how it strikes you!

I just love alliteration!

I did not, however, stay up long enough to join Deanna and Diana at Karaoke Night in Kona.  I understand from the "girls" that they were fabulous at singing along when other people were at the mike but were a bit more whispery when it was their turn to sing California Girls by the Beach Boys.  They talked another California Girl into singing along with them and I bet they were just fine!

Dean and Donna are talking about going next week when we have Deanna's boyfriend, Tim, with us.  I'm trying to work up my nerve to go along...I don't have to sing if I go, right?

This morning, the whole gaggle of us went for a walk up Alii Drive.  Then we came back and snorkeled in the cove behind the house.  It was pretty smooth (which was the only reason we braved it) and we saw lots of fish before we came in from our brief adventure.

Then it was spa day for the girls (including the Donna and I).  We headed down to the Sheraton and hung out by the pool a bit too.  Dean kicked it here at Hale Honu and I am sure was glad to get out of the cloud of females for a bit.

We are off to Taco Tuesdays tonight.  Fish sightings today included dolphins (every day so far) Stripebelly Pufferfish, Black Durgeon Triggerfish and hundreds o' Tang.

I also got a golf ball from the bottom of the cove and Dean said it wouldn't work too well for our golf game so I tossed it back.  It seemed at home there.

Probably tilted the balance of pollution past recovery...but it's too late now.

Off to eat Tacos and Guacamole!

Yum.

Not as easy as it sounds!  Actually, we had a lot of fun going to Costco, Home Depot and Loews for patio furniture to replace our four-year-old, totally rusted out patio set.

We found a set at Costco that everyone loved...but no delivery...and it wouldn't fit in our rental car with all of us in it.  So we dropped the girls off at the beach and went back.  No joy.  Still wouldn't fit.

So we tried to rent a truck at Home Depot.  Dean had (of course) the measuring tape so we made sure before we went in that the furniture would fit.  All good.  Except the truck had been broken down for a week and a half.

"How broken is it?" I asked.  The man at the service desk was not amused.  We took a peek at their patio furniture and didn't find anything suitable... so, we called Loews and they had a working truck.  But it had just been checked out and they had no idea when it might be back in.  I asked if I could reserve it.  Nope.

We drove over to Loews, just in case it had been turned in.  No joy there either but we did find a cheaper, better fitting patio set there and Dean finagled it so it all fit in the Expedition.  We took it home, met the girls at Kahalu'u for a drink, then came home to enjoy the new furniture and the wading pool.  Dean put together the tables while the girls practiced their synchronized swimming in the hot tub.

Then it was salmon burgers, salad and another almost perfect sunset.  (No green flash, so it can't be perfect.)  The girls are off to karaoke tonight but it's starting in 3 hours and I think I'm for bed in about 30 minutes.

All in all, quite a fun day in Kona.

Went snorkeling yesterday morning with Dean while Donna, Deanna and Diana hung out on the beach at Kahalu'u.  We saw amazing numbers of fish including Cornetfish, Moorish Idols, Yellow Tang, Trunkfish and the legendary Humuhumu-Nukunuku-Apua'a.

The Humuhumu is legendary as Hawaii's state fish, but also this particular Humuhumu is legendary for attacking and biting my friend, Lynne last year.  She will be pleased to know that "her" Humu chased me and nipped my leg.  Dean was witness.  It was pretty funny.

After that, we had lunch, bought a new blender (the old one was broken) and relaxed.  We had a dinner on the lanai and then watched a glorious sunset.  Still no green flash, tho.  Then the girls got ready for a night out while the old folks stayed in and slept.

Oh...and the reason Turtles are in the title is that Dean and I saw 3 while snorkeling and we saw a bunch of other ones while walking back from Kahalu'u.  And the dolphins were spinning off the lanai again this morning.  How cool is that?

I should say it's been a lazy morning for ME.  Donna, on the other hand, made breakfast for all of us.  (Thanks, Donna!)  I love waking up to the sound of the ocean.  Even when I wake up several times during the night to the sound...it never gets annoying.

Today it looks like we are walking down to Kahalu'u for snorkeling, reading and general hanging out.  I'll update the blog with fish sightings as we go.

As of this morning, we haven't even gotten wet and we saw dolphins hunting and spinning off the lanai.  Should be a great day.  Funny how that takes away all thoughts of politics, miniature disasters and minor catastrophes (to quote KT Tunstall).  S'all good.

Travel days are always full of challenges and little comforts.  Today, my challenges were (a LOT of) screaming children, leaking a/c condensation pipes, dealing with the rental house issues...and that's about it.

I met the challenges with:

1.  An ipod (to drown out said screaming children and entertain myself on a 5 and 1/2 hour flight)

2.  The help of our wonderful contractor, Territorial Builders, Inc. and an a/c repairman sent by Wayne Twitchell, our rental agent.

3.  Rental house issues were overcome by the company of my incredible family members (Dean, who checked out the a/c problem, Donna, who unpacked me while I was on the phone, and Deanna--and her friend, Diana--who treated the house as perfect in every way).

The small comforts were:

Dan dropping me off at the kiss and fly.  The venti latte from Starbucks.  A new Stephen King Novel.  My husband's voice encouraging me not to stress about a/c leaks.  A Kona Inn Mai-Tai (more about the Inn than the Mai Tai...lovely wave break and ocean breezes).

And then there's the picture perfect sunset, as always, here at Hale Honu.

All travel days should have such slight challenges and such manifold blessings.

My brother, Dale, had these comments in response to yesterday's post.  I agree with what he has to say...and even though we've often been on opposite sides of the voting booth, I do think one thing Bush has done is make people sick of the "political machine."  Most of America, I think, is in the middle...not on the fringes.  Time our politicians were, too.

 

Dale's Comments:

I sit here trying to think of something I can say to defend OUR President.   However, the sad situation of our politics is that there is no defending him or most of the other politicians.  It's unfortunate that the biggest criminals of our day, seem to be running the country, that there really are no Republicans or Democrats, only egotistical people that somehow get to the top and "we the people" are doing the time.

 

I don't have the answers, but some how we need to quit letting the government run us and get back to back to what made this country great.  That is a government run by the people for the people, not by the privileged for the privileged.